Coco

Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Renée Victor & Ana Ofelia Murguía

Directed By: Lee Unkrich

Rating: ★★★★

Not since the Horned King and his army of the undead in the disastrous flop The Black Cauldron has Disney dared to have so many skeletons in one movie. But, since this is a film about the Day of the Dead, there had to be undead characters- and lots and lots of skeletons.

Miguel and Héctor love to sing!

For a film that looks scarier than it is, Coco is a surprisingly melancholic movie that instantly tugs at the heart strings. It’s about love, it’s about following your dreams, and most importantly it’s about family- and it’s in these intimate moments that you’ll find yourself reaching for a hanky.

Miguel meets his dearly departed family...

Set during the colourful Mexican celebration of Día de Muertos, Miguel wants to break from his family’s traditions and become a singer- with unexpected consequences. After accidentally venturing into the Land of the Dead, he teams up with deceased spector Héctor to find his hero Ernesto de la Cruz, a departed singing sensation who Miguel thinks is the only one who can send him back to the land of living.

Ernesto shows Miguel another world.

Full of rich, vibrant environments and strong, endearing lead characters, Coco takes us into unfamiliar worlds and paints a beautiful picture of this celebration and the afterlife in an accessible, entertaining and emotional way.

The Land of the Dead is both bold and beautiful.

Gonzalez and Bernal are brilliant as the leads, and, although the themes might be a little full on, are interesting and are presented as unusually colourful and soulful.

All Miguel wants to do is sing...

Although it starts out slight clunky, once it hits is stride, the mix of Mexican Catholic and Aztec beliefs works together incredibly well, the musical numbers are lively and enjoyable, and there’s a huge twist that is not only unpredictable but is also incredibly heartfelt.

Dante is Miguel's spirit guide...

Coco might look like a Halloween film, but it’s anything but. It’s not frightening: it’s warm, emotional and sad, with poignant songs and a brilliant ending that packs a powerful punch.

Can Miguel get back to the land of the living...?

A critical and commercial hit, Coco is a lively, beautiful road trip movie with a fun and original twist. Unlike some of the more recent Pixar movies, Coco is a fun family film that knows exactly where it’s heart lies