Coco Review

Certificate: PG

Running time: 105 minutes 

Directed by: Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina.

What’s it about: Miguel dreams of becoming a musician like his ultimate idol Ernesto de la Cruz. However, his family have a ban on music which has lasted for generations. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel ends up on a magical journey of discovery, in the colourful Land of the Dead. 

The verdict: I was really looking forward to seeing Coco and when I saw that it had advance previews, I knew I had to go. The trailers had done a good job of making Coco look good, but without giving too much away. In fact, there is footage in the trailer that isn’t actually in the film - a rarity these days. 

The characters are great, and Miguel makes a sweet and endearing lead as a boy who loves music with a passion. The supporting characters are also good, made up of members of Miguel’s family - they feel relatable and realistic. The animation is top notch, some of it breathtakingly so, with certain details feeling almost real. The soundtrack is also great, the songs are catchy and I could see other audience members tapping along to the music. 

Coco isn’t flawless though, and where it falls down slightly is in its formulaic approach. There are twists, but they are mostly predictable. It just feels as though there is something lacking that prevents Coco from being a masterpiece. 

However, Coco is still a great film that both kids and adults will love. It is bright, colourful and is rich in cultural detail. My favourite thing about it is that it has a wonderful message - the importance of family and how those we love will always be with us, as long as we remember them. Overall, I definitely enjoyed Coco and I look forward to watching it again.

Should you watch this film? Yes, definitely. Pixar have done it again, and although Coco isn’t their best film, it more than lives up to the challenge, Coco is certainly a film to enjoy on the big screen.