Coco

The premise and the Mexican atmosphere are definitely great, but the characters aren’t fully developed. Not to mention that you can feel how much the film wants to be touching and I don't think it ultimately succeeds. I've seen prettier fairy tales. With nicer endings, more sympathetic protagonists and, most importantly, no annoying supporting characters. I’ll give an extra point for the music and the Spanish, but otherwise I consider it a slight disappointment. 3 stars. (09/25/2018)

Only Pixar is capable of tear-jerkers like this. A visually polished world with clever rules and a Mexican atmosphere with the right kind of message. A message about family and how important it is not to forget. And about music, of course. Giacchino really lays it on us. The sophisticated guitar parts and catchy tunes would warm the heart of the dead. (11/11/2018)

A Pixar movie as it should be, but Zootropolis is still unbeaten for me. Coco has solid visuals, a nice story, nice songs, decent pacing, a good dose of humor, and one very good plot twist. The emotional finale left me cold this time, but otherwise satisfied. Good fun for the whole family. No wonder Coco is a hit in Mexico. 80% (01/04/2018)

A cloying story that relies solely on clichés and basic family values, led by a typical outsider whom everybody underestimates and prevents from dedicating himself to the only thing he enjoys. Fortunately, that routine development is abundantly spiced up after arrival in the Land of the Dead, and the film becomes visually and humanly richer and gets a relentless pace, and the fate of the heroes is closed in a way that will soften even the toughest grouch and will cause an unlimited flow of tears. The moral is important and also fun, so mission accomplished. 75% (11/08/2018)

For about three quarters of its runtime, it still feels like a classy four-star animated film, with lots of visual flourishes and ideas, some predictable sequences, and one weaker scene that I've seen in other films (the reveal of the bad guy to the public). But then it builds up to an incredible moving moment, and the pivotal scene with the song at the end made me cry like a little kid – something that hasn’t happened to me in a long time. It's true, the most important thing in life is the family being together in mutual love and respect for the elderly. On top of that, the eye-pleasing Mexican setting, unusual in Hollywood productions, its flair and positive mood. Yeah, it was very good. (08/06/2018)