REVIEW: The Book of Life

THE BOOK OF LIFE

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: PG

RUNNING TIME: 95 MINUTES

SCORE: *****/*****

 

PREMISE: From producer Guillermo del Toro and director Jorge Gutierrez comes an animated comedy with a unique visual style. THE BOOK OF LIFE is the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favorites, THE BOOK OF LIFE encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future.

 

THE PRO'S: Fun and imaginative storyline, humor, and set-up. Great framework in making the story more like a bedtime story. Excellent and positive message.

 

THE CON'S: This may be the first movie I can't really think of con's for.

 

 

THE REVIEW:

 

Wow, what is there to say about The Book of Life? I knew from the trailers it was going to be good, but I was no expecting the masterpiece that was presented. It was, without a doubt, the most surprising movie of this year in that respect, and man others as well.

"The Book of Life" centers on Manolo and Joaquin, who are chosen by two Mexican Gods on the Day of the Dead to be the pieces in a wager. Each one choosing a different boy as their champion for the heart of their friend, Maria. Unfortunately, Maria is sent away soon after, causing the three to go on separate paths: Maria becomes a very forward feminist with a love of culture, Manolo trains to be a matador, while secretly wishing to sing, and Joaquin, the military hero of their hometown. Upon Maria's return, however, all three soon find themselves once again in a love triangle, which ends when one of the gods brings about the death of Manolo. Thus, sending him on a quest through the Lands of the "Remembered" and the "Forgotten" to find his way back to the girl he considers his one true love.

And what a quest it is! This is one of the few movies where I will honestly be giving nothing but praise, because it is all deserved. The beautiful world Guillermo Del Toro and his team have crafted is simply breathtaking, which automatically was an aspect I fell in love with. Because on the surface, I can honestly say that this is one beautiful movie to look at on the surface.

 

But that's only the beginning. The Book of Life's story is ultimately where most of the heart lies, as it should. What could have been a shallow story centered on yet another love triangle becomes the exact opposite. The love story between the three leads is very well crafted, written, and dare I say it, though the road isn't very realistic, their relationship progress is excellently paced. Only helped by the fact that each of the characters are funny, often zany, and enjoyable.

It's really hard to point out  just one character as being the "best" in a movie like this. As I just want to applaud the entire voice cast. Each of them are absolutely lively, entertaining, and colorful. With a special big thumbs up to each of the Gods, who were probably my favorite characters in the film. The writers carefully crafted them to be as much the stars of the movie as its three leads, and in some ways, they do steal the show away from them.

I want to also specifically praise the creative team for their AMAZING work on the three worlds. I know I said it before, but the colorful worlds are so filled with imagination that I sometimes couldn't help but get lost in them. Each world stands out very firmly from the next, and though we only get a small amount of time in tow of them, it doesn't matter much in the end, at least for someone like me. Who was to captivated in seeing how this story wrapped up for me to care.

Another thing that makes the movie really stand out is the final delivery of its message. It's not the message you were expecting, but the way it is delivered is a great way of presenting it to kids. It's also done in a way that I'd never have thought of presenting it either. So very, very big points for both the original and exciting execution of a message that a lot of kids these days need to hear.

I could probably write a long, involved essay about just how great this movie is. But at the end of the day, I think I've summed up my thoughts perfectly. And so I leave you with the bottom line...

 

IN CONCLUSION:

The Book of Life was one of the biggest surprises I have seen in my life. From its wonderful characters, fun storyline, vibrant visuals, to its great message, and mountains of heart, it's a must-see for anyone who loves animated films. It's definitely in my top five movies of this year. A true stand-out in every way.

 

5 OUT OF 5 STARS
MY HIGHEST RECCOMENDATIONS