Soul Review

 

Certificate: PG

Running time: 97 minutes 

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Daveed Diggs, Questlove, Angela Bassett

Directed by: Pete Doctor and Kemp Powers

The story: Middle school band teacher Joe has lost his passion for music. When he is transported out of his body, he must find his way back with the help of a young soul.

The verdict: Pixar has long since established itself as a studio that produces incredibly popular, successful and award winning animated films. And so with each new release there is an expectation that the film will be another beloved gem, and the small worry that this film may be the one that doesn’t quite live up to the magic that audiences have come to expect. Thankfully, audiences need not worry because Soul is another great installment from Pixar. 

Soul stood out immediately to me because it’s such a unique and original story. There have been many animations that have dealt with similar issues but none that have done it in such a way as Soul does. There are lots of moments in which Soul feels slightly surreal and those who prefer their narrative straightforward and logical may struggle, but if you like your films quirky and thought provoking then Soul will engage you throughout. 

Soul’s visuals are really inviting and they are enhanced by a great score. But what was the most appealing thing about Soul was the themes that it explores. Soul is a film about existential crises, how we live our lives and what makes them worth living. The way that Soul looks at how humans strive to find their purpose really struck a chord with me and a late epiphany in the film had me in tears. 

Though kids are likely to enjoy Soul, make no mistake - this is one for the adults. 

The rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half