Soul Movie Review

This is an article “Soul” by Marc Primo

Release date: 25 December 2020 (USA)

Director: Pete Docter

Language: English

Production Companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios

Producer: Dana Murray

By now, Pixar fans are already well-accustomed to the song and story tropes that have made the outfit millions of dollars throughout the years. Add to the count their latest offering, Soul, which tells the story of a grade school music teacher who, up until the last minutes of his life, has failed to follow his dream of playing for a jazz band. Like the ones before it, there is so much more to Soul than just the catchy tunes and colorful slapstick.

Imagine taking one part Dante’s Divine Comedy, one part Lovely Bones, and two parts of The Good Place then mixing them altogether inside a blender. What comes out is an engaging tale of mortality, redemption, and sacrifice that all ages will surely be able to relate to and enjoy. Of course, the music is a huge factor in how Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (yes… those guys from Nine Inch Nails), worked with top-rated artist and musician Jon Batiste for the film’s score and theme songs. Merging the music with the visuals gives audiences a seamless storyline that traverses back and forth between what we can assume as purgatory and this mortal coil.

Meanwhile, Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey also create the perfect chemistry between pianist/teacher Joe Gardner and ’22’—a trapped soul who refuses to live out its life on Earth. They invite audiences to follow their snappy repartee while we grow to love both of their characters. The film is absolutely easy to follow from start to finish, despite an overwhelming amount of slapstick in between, which will make you wonder if that was already the whole 101 minutes. The storytelling seems to go swiftly yet viewers will be able to connect all the dots of this skillfully woven puzzle of a film.

With co-writer and director Pete Docter at the helm, Soul might share a couple of subtle similarities with Up and Inside Out, mainly from the common existential themes that all three share. But the film stands on its own with how it encourages viewers to pursue purpose and the true meaning of each character’s life. In turn, it also challenges us to take a moment from all the hustle and bustle in our lives and immerse in some profound reflection.

And it doesn’t stop there. Soul further pushes viewers to look deep within themselves and ask up to what extent they can sacrifice something for someone they have grown to know and love even for just a fleeting moment. With these challenging questions, Soul is able to play all its jazz notes flawlessly by not aiming for perfection but rather letting the discordant slices of Joe’s life unfold so the viewers will be able to relate them with our own. In the end, the film somehow makes it easier for all of us to accept the things that have already panned out with thanks, while also being welcoming to whatever dreams may still lie ahead.

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