Jerry: “So what do you think you'll do? How are you gonna spend your life?”
Joe: “I'm not sure. But I do know... I'm going to live every minute of it.”
Pixar Studios knows how to tell stories. Maybe a little too well. In recent years, the studio and Disney have not failed to produce some of the most inventive and ambitious projects that captures a family-friendly energy the studio always aims for. With “Coco”, “Inside Out”, and “Toy Story 4” showing just how brilliant and careful the studio approaches its projects, I knew Pete Doctors’ “Soul” would definitely show the elegance and passion we had already been accustomed to.
Without spoiling moving forward, the film tells a story about a middle school band teacher named Joe Gardner, voiced by Jamie Foxx. Joe, from the beginning, is shown as a scrum who never got his big break and ended up settling as a music teacher. He loves jazz and the piano, and displays how much talent he has with the instrument in front of his students near the beginning of the film. Unexpectedly, one of his former students calls him up to perform with a famous local jazz saxist. Finally his big break.
Once he has a shot to do something right in his life, Joe begins to scramble and rush himself because of the gig he got. When life is going right for Joe, he misses his footing and falls down a sewer. Then he is taken to the Great Before, where he discovers that souls are created in this realm. He tries to figure out how he can somehow get back to Earth and perform the gig he never had a chance to do in his life.
The narrative, without spoilers, shows off what Pixar is known for doing best. They create realms and worlds for audiences to connect with larger themes so it can be told to children as well. In “Coco” there is an afterlife world that is discovered but it displays vibrant colors, with distinct character designs, specifically the characters being skeletons since they are dead. In “Soul”, they settle us in the Great Before which essentially where souls get their characteristics before being sent to Earth to live out a life.
Joe meets Soul 22 (voiced by Tina Fey), since all of the souls are kept to a count thanks to guardians who watch over these realms. Soul 22 is a peculiar, rebellious, outrageous soul that never found her spark to become a life on Earth. Joe ends up helping Soul 22, and she does in return to help him return to Earth.
Conceptually and beautifully animated, “Soul” captures the great reminder that life is a precious thing that we do need to cherish when we can. And after experiencing “Soul” I found myself just simply reflecting on my personal life or even thinking how I want to move forward. This film is why films can inspire and change people. And to me, this points to the longevity of the film's presence. It will be watched by families, kids and adults, and can be watched later due to the attributes and themes it details.
I can imagine a kid now watching “Soul” and watching it later because kids grow and learn about the notions to life itself. I do not think they will understand the abstractions on screen now, but the parents and adults will who are watching it with their kids. The film is an eccentric lesson for kids and even adults to be reminded that life is filled with tons of obstacles, and sometimes the thing we love the most will lead us to what fulfills our livelihood.
The praise here for “Soul” is palpable and I truly believe this is one of the best films of 2020. The only criticisms I have here is some of the Great Before realm logic that I found to be slightly questionable. And it does contribute to the entirety and major portion of the story that “Soul” is telling. It is humorous and harmless for the narrative, but it does linger as the film progressed for myself.
Once again, I found myself head over heels with “Soul” and all I can do is recommend it for you to see. It is such a idiosyncratic, delightfully constructed story, with characters who present themselves as real individuals with connectable traits and features despite being an animated film. Animation, if used unerringly, it creates inventive and simple stories that feel grand and special. “Soul” does exactly that and it is, once again, added to a catalog of Pixar films that will age like fine wine. This film gives us reasons to live and find ways to enjoy being alive.
Run Time: 1 Hour 47 Minutes
Rating: A