Soul - Movie Review

 

Can Pixar continue the run of emotionally charged excellence that has led to trophy cases full of Oscars? The answer is most certainly yes, yes it can. 

FAST FACTS

REPORTED BUDGET: $150 million

BOX OFFICE: N/A

ROTTON TOMATOES CRITICS / AUDIENCE SCORE: 97% / 90%

CINEMA SCORE: N/A

END CREDIT SCENE: No (although a character does appear to tell you to stop watching at the very end of the credits)

NON-SPOILER REVIEW

Co-directors Pete Docter and Kemp Powers have viewers contemplating the meaning of life in this quintessential Pixar film. Soul is adorably cute for the kids, incredibly thought provoking for adults, and full of laughs for adults and kids alike. 

The movie follows Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx) as he is on the cusp of accomplishing his life mission by playing music professionally. An unfortunate accident befalls him the day of his big break, and he eventually meets 22 (voiced by Tina Fey). 22 is a soul that has yet to be placed on earth and is not in a hurry to experience life. The pairing will go on a journey of self-discovery, learning what life is really all about. 

Graham Norton (Moonwind), Angela Bassett (Dorothea), Daveed Diggs (Paul), Alice Braga (Counselor Jerry), and Richard Ayoade (Counselor Jerry) are some of the other voices of note in this film. 

OVERALL RECOMMENDATION

Since the movie follows the life of a jazz musician, you can expect exquisite music throughout the film. While I'm aware Pixar is (and has always been) at the forefront of animation, I couldn't help but be awed at how they're able to light scenes and bring drawings to life in such realistic and emotionally charged ways. Soul really is another stellar addition to the Pixar family of films.

My Rating: A+

The Oscar buzz is mounting for this Disney+ production. It has even been rumored to be in the Best Picture race. Whether you're invested in awards talk, love animation, or enjoy heartwarming and thought-provoking films, Soul is certainly worth your precious viewing time. 

SPOILER REVIEW

The movie opens with possibly the worst rendition of a Disney classic (When You Wish Upon A Star), but we see that it is our protagonist, Joe, teaching a music class. While the students are not taking the music seriously, we do witness one star pupil who seems to lose herself in the music, setting the stage for the events of the movie.

Joe receives a full-time job offer at the school, which is at odds with his dream of playing music professionally. Although his dream seems highly unlikely, he miraculously receives the call of a lifetime from a former student who offers him an opportunity. In his excitement, Joe loses his grasp on his surroundings and falls into a pothole. 

Joe finds himself in this strange place, slowly gliding towards a white light. Panicked by his current state, he frantically tries to fight his way off of the path to "The Great Beyond." Somehow, Joe manages to escape the path, finding himself in a place called "The Great Before." This is where souls are born and given their personality traits before heading to Earth.

Joe is given a mentorship of a particularly challenging soul, 22. 22 has been around for thousands of years and has had a variety of acclaimed mentors throughout the years, including Mother Teresa, Abraham Lincoln, and Muhammad Ali amongst many others. The purpose of the mentorship is to find the missing part of 22's personality that unlocks her Earth pass, allowing her to live her life. However, 22 is convinced that it is better to remain in The Great Before, thinking life is nothing but "soul crushing." 

Joe and 22 meet someone named Moonwind in the land of lost souls who claims he can return Joe to his body. Just as Joe succeeds in finding his earthly body, both him and 22 fall into the portal. 22 ends up in Joe's body while Joe finds himself in a therapy cat next to his body. 

This begins an entertaining journey of 22 discovering what life really entails through the eyes of Joe, and Joe is free to observe his life from an outsider's perspective. Joe and 22 end up finding a way to set things straight and return Joe to his body, but 22 delays the process in the hopes of finding the spark needed to gain her Earth pass. 

After a period of enlightenment from Joe and depression from 22, each character finds their purpose for existence. Joe realizes that life is a gift and every day is precious no matter what that day brings. He learns to love life, whether it means performing professionally or inspiring children in a classroom. 22 discovers the final piece of her pass that is missing is the desire to live and not a specific characteristic. 

The perspective of each character throughout this journey reinforces the importance of life. People may interpret this message or this film differently, which further strengthens meaning behind the film. Life is so precious, wide-ranging, diverse, and encompassing that people with all kinds of hopes, passions, and personalities can find happiness and fulfillment. All one has to do is be open to the possibilities life offers. 

Understandably, this might be a bit of a complicated concept for some children to comprehend. That's OK. There is plenty for small children in this film to be entertained by, and as they grow up and mature, they'll learn to appreciate the more advanced aspects of the film. That is what makes a movie like this beautiful. It can be appreciated by different generations for different reasons and remain relevant for years to come.  

It's hard to differentiate between the greatness of the various Pixar films. Each brings its own individual greatness to the audience, and they each impact the viewer uniquely and personally. For me, Soul impacts me mentally and emotionally, similarly to other movies Pixar has released, but what sets Soul apart is the consistency with which it delivers its message from start to finish.