Soul (2020) Review

Title: Soul
Year: 2020
Director: Pete Docter
Country: US
Language: English

Though often made for a younger demographic, there are certain animated movies, by Disney or otherwise, that are in no way, shape, or form "kids movies". Soul, which begins with the death of the main character, is not a kids film. Released on Christmas Day, this latest Disney Pixar strangely reminds me of another Christmas classic; It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

In Soul a musician (Jamie Foxx) who has lost his passion for music is transported out of his body and must find his way back with the help of an infant soul learning about herself (Tina Fey) .

Our protagonist is a middle aged man grappling with middle aged issues of self doubt, insecurity, and facing the reality of his failed dreams. It's a poignant big hearted picture that has an odd moral for a studio known for telling kids to chase their dreams. Soul tells us that our lives are meaningful and that we can find meaning in the smallest of things. In addition, Soul explores the emptiness of dreams fulfilled. 

Unusual for a Pixar film - as in there is a long history of non-representation- the film is centered on a predominantly Black cast. Albeit this may be a case of one step forward, two steps back, as much of the characters are a non-racial blue pigment during the majority of the screen-time. POC have made many complaints that their skin color isn't fully represented even though the main character is a poc. 

Soul (2020) is a pretty mature animated film that is a little bit balanced with some of its more comedic moments. As a cat person I loved the scenes where our main character accidentally become a feline in New York. This is a worthwhile film that can stand alongside Pixar's best.