Soul (2020) Review

 Soul (2020) Review

Dirs. Pete Docter, Kemp Powers

 

Latest Pixar Heart-warmer is visually and spiritually unique.

 

Soul follows the titular lost soul of a jazz musician, Joe, as he explores what makes life what it is. What begins as a rather bleak premise, the idea of souls going into the beyond, instead becomes a very warm tale of discovering the spark that makes life liveable. With an all star voice cast headed by a pathos-filled Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey, Soul comes to Disney Plus uses for free on Christmas Day, having been theatrically delayed in 2020. 

 

This, like many Pixar joints before it, is a movie that will be fun for the kids, but completely life changing for the adults. This is perhaps the most deeply meaningful kids animation ever. Soul will truly make you think, and make you feel.

 

For the kids, all the hallmarks of Pixar are there. The comedy beats, the funny animals, the cute character designs etc. But for the adults it’s a completely different experience. Clever, ethereal, explorative and reflective. This is perhaps the only movie that could be considered a coming of age tale for someone of any age. 

 

Soul is filled to the brim with meaning, benefit and purpose.

I was worried that it’s subject matter may be too heavy at first, and that it would stray all too easily into the emotionally wrecking territory, but Soul defies expectations at every turn, instead convincing you that life is worth living and it’s worth living right now.

 

As an animation, this has some of the most beautiful computer animated visuals Pixar has ever achieved. Flitting between the beautifully textured realism of Earth, to the uber-stylised abstract world of the Souls. For me, it’s the best Pixar film visually since Finding Nemo and its groundbreaking seascapes. 

 

The care and love oozes out of every crevice of this movie. Be it the writing, the animation or the musical accompaniment. This is a passion project of many. 

 

My only criticism of this solid movie, is that it’s lore and world building is so dense and eclectic that I wish we had more time to explore certain elements of the soul world more, however I feel the point was still made well enough as is, and the focus on the more human micro-story is surely an intentional one. 

 

Soul is a wonderful experience for kids, but an even more profound one for adults. It’s up there with the Pixar greats and one of my favourite movies of the year. 

I thought it was perfect timing for a film like this. When many, including myself, are struggling to stay motivated and understand their place in an evermore challenging world, Soul reminds us to stay true to ourselves and realise just how much there is to love about the human experience. 

 

 

9/10

 

Review by Elliott Thomas Griffiths