An aspiring musician on the name Miguel finds himself on the land of dead, where he was accidentally transported to. His great-great-grandfather is helping him to return to his family among the living.
Does Coco rise to the heights of Pixar's very best work? No. But it is a generous, heartfelt film, full of color and music, one that offers a timely Thanksgiving tribute to the intergenerational importance of family.
There is a lot to admire about Coco, particularly its energy and its story that attempts to find resolution between commitment to one's family and one's own sense of identity.
Of every Pixar film that deals with family, memory, and loss, ask, "Is there sufficient reason for the tears that will inevitably run down my face by the end?" Yes, thanks in no small part to the ingenious use of De La Cruz's hit song, "Remember Me."
None of Coco's few flaws can fatally undermine the film because it is, most of all, a smart and enduring piece of storytelling with a satisfyingly twisting narrative and richly complex theme.
After its spectacular visuals and music, its true and celebrational inclusion of Mexican culture; what stays with us about COCO, is the loving heart of a family, and the strength of a little boy who won't give up his dream.