Coco (2017)

"What is going on?"

"You the Rivera family? ... Well, you're cursed."

Miguel Rivera (Gonzalez) loves music and dreams of being a musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (Bratt).  However, his family hates music.  The late family matriarch Mama Imelda Rivera (Ubach), banished music and musicians from her life.  The family has continued this tradition and focuses on the shoe-making business she started.  Miguel wants to follow his family, but cannot deny his love of music.  He has a special connection with his great grandmother Mama Socorro "Coco" Rivera (Murguia).  As the family gathers to celebrate the Day of the Dead, Miguel breaks a picture and discovers a picture of Mama Coco with her parents.  The father's face is missing, but he is holding de la Cruz's guitar, and Miguel believes de la Cruz is his ancestor.

He runs away to enter a battle of the bands and steals de la Cruz's guitar.  In the process, he becomes invisible to everyone around him, and he sees skeletons moving around.  He bumps into his skeletal ancestors, who take him back to the land of the dead to ask Mama Imelda how to fix the situation.  Mama Imelda offers to send him home, but only if he forgets music forever.  Unwilling to part with his dream, he seeks the help of con artist skeleton Hector (Bernal) to help him find de la Cruz and reclaim music in his life.  Can they find de la Cruz and get Miguel home before he turns into a skeleton?


This is Pixar Animation Studios 19th animated film.  The film is centered around the celebration of Dia de los Muertos.  Dia de los Muertos is the Mexican holiday of the Day of the Dead.  It is the celebration of family and remembering ancestors.

The screenplay was written by Adrian Molina (who co-directed the film) and Matthew Aldrich.  Lee Unkrich, who directed Toy Story 3 contributed to the original story and directed the film.  The story is interesting and full of vibrant colors and characters.

The score was written by Michael Giacchino, with original songs by Germaine Franco, Molina, and Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.  The Lopez's are the duo who wrote the songs in Disney's Frozen.  The songs are heart-warming and catchy.  "Remember Me" packs a punch, but my favorite is the instrumental "Jalale" which is performed by the Mexician Institute of Sound.

The cast is comprised of all Latino actors.  The only exception is Pixar regular John Ratzenberger who has a single line.  Anthony Gonzalez is great as Miguel and is a talented singer.  Benjamin Bratt is convincing as the swaggering Ernesto de la Cruz.  He performs "Remember Me," but all of his other songs were performed by Antonio Sol.  Gael Garcia Bernal is fun as Hector.  It is a strong cast and everyone works well in their roles.

The film won numerous awards, including 2 Academy Awards.  Unkrich and Darla K. Anderson won for Best Animated Feature, which Unkrich also won for Toy Story 3 in 2010.  Anderson-Lopez and Lopez won Best Original Song for "Remember Me."  They won the same award in 2013 for "Let It Go."

Coco (2017) 105 minutes
Director: Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina
Starring: Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel Rivera
Gael Garcia Bernal as Hector
Benjamin Bratt as Ernesto de la Cruz
Alanna Ubach as Mama Imelda Rivera
Renee Victor as Elena Rivera
Ana Ofelia Murguia as Mama Socorro "Coco" Rivera