Coco (2017)


Pixar week continues with their most recent film, at least until tomorrow, Coco.

The Movie:

 Coco is the 19th Pixar film.  It was highly praised by critics and performed well at the box office.  Notably, Coco featured a Latino voice cast, befitting the setting of the movie, and it became the highest grossing movie in Mexican history.  It won numerous honors including the Oscar for Best Animated Film.

The main character in Coco is 12-year-old Miguel Rivera.  Miguel is the fifth generation in a family of shoemakers, a tradition begun by his great-great-grandmother Mamá Imelda, who started the career after being abandoned by her husband, a musician, and left with their daughter Coco (Miguel's still-living great-grandmother).  While his family hates music because of how it once tore them apart, Miguel secretly longs to be a musician like his idol, legendary singer Ernesto de la Cruz.  When Miguel steals de la Cruz's guitar to perform in a talent contest during Día de Muertos, he is transported to the Land of the Dead, where he must seek the help of his family there to return home.

 Coco is a wonderful movie.  The story, about the importance of family, has a heart-warming message.  Now when I saw this movie at first in the theater, it was a 3-D showing, and the 3-D projection was slightly off, blurring the stunning visuals, a highlight of the film.  It should say something about the quality of the story that I was still absolutely blown away after that initial viewing.  Plus, the way that the movie shows genuine respect for Mexican traditions is quite refreshing, especially since I have taught in several communities with a large population of Mexican descent, and I have seen all levels of respect (or lack thereof).

 With music being at the heart of this story, it's no wonder that the music is great.  Michael Giacchino's Mexican-influenced score is inspired, and the Oscar-winning "Remember Me" by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez is not just a great song, it plays an actual role in the story throughout the film.

 Presence in the Parks:

 At this point, there isn't currently much Coco at WDW.  For a couple of months after the movie opened, there was a Coco-themed mariachi show at the Mexico pavilion at Epcot, but it is no longer there.  Of course, there are many item at the pavilion that relate to Día de Muertos, loosely connecting to the film, but nothing specific outside merchandise.  There have been rumors that a Coco overlay could come to the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, itself being an overlay of the original ride there, but nothing official has been said.


Mexico Pavilion at Epcot, May 2007

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