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Review: Coco (2017)

Coco is a musical fantasy animation film produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. I had a chance of catching the premiere of Coco at Novo Cinemas, at Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai.

The trailer of the film does not give out a lot of info about the movie itself. So, I was not expecting too much from the movie – but I was excited, since it’s from the Pixar stable. I watched it last night, and I am still awestruck.


Coco tells the story about family, leaving a legacy and finding one’s voice. The movie is based on an original idea by Lee Unkrich and is also directed by Unkrich. Adrian Molina co-directs and writes the movie – the pair was also behind iconic Pixar films such as Finding Nemo, the Toy Story franchise and Monsters University.


Coco is a vibrant film that explores the traditions of the Day of the Dead, a child’s desire to become a musician despite his family’s wishes, and the power of unconditional love. The story is told from the point of view of Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez), a young boy who ends up in the Land of the Dead, by accident.


Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz, even though his family has banned music for a very specific reason, which is let out at some point, during the movie. Miguel is desperate to prove his talent and hence he and his dog Dante find themselves in the Land of the Dead.

The remainder of the story is how he manages to unlock the real story behind his family’s history. Coco features an all-star Latino voice cast (including Gael García Bernal and Benjamin Bratt), as well as a Latino co-director and many Latino crew members. Coco is sort of a tribute to Mexican traditions and customs.

The overall execution of the movie is fantastic. The visuals are beautiful and colourful, and the way characters interact with each other and with their environments is just top notch. Coco is filled with fantastic creatures, structures and situations, and is also a tear-jerker.

I like the fact that the themes in Coco speak of perseverance, teamwork, and gratitude. Coco also encourages audiences to love and appreciate their family and always follow their dreams. A must watch for the whole family!