Image provided by Walt Disney Pictures
Soul is the latest Pixar animated film which stars Jamie Foxx as Joe Gardner, a passionate jazz pianist and music teacher whose soul gets separated from his body after a freak accident. Right away, I realized that this film was going to go places that Pixar hasn't before. Like all my reviews, I won't be spoiling anything but I do think it is important to point out that this film dives heavily into death and the purpose of life which some parents may not want to fully expose their little ones to yet. With that said, I loved this movie. I typically am a person who appreciates most Pixar films but this one resonated with me quite a bit.
In the film, Joe Gardner has quite a bit of regret after having his soul ripped apart from him. He wishes he would of done things differently in his professional life and tries to change that. Along the way, he discovers more things he wishes he would have done differently and as the film progresses, Joe starts to gain more appreciation for that of life as he see's what he meant to others. The overall theme of the movie is one that I think is important, especially in the world today. We often are so caught up by our own anxieties and self-doubts we push things off and tell ourselves we were never good enough to pursue our dreams or that we'll be okay. I know for me, death in particular is something I struggle with quite a bit. The first time I ever lost someone I knew and loved was when I was 20 years old. It was the first time I experienced this and was lost on how to handle my emotions. It was refreshing for me to be reminded while watching this film that life is meant to be enjoyed and appreciated even with the hard circumstances that life deals us such as death or regret.
While most reviews cover the acting, direction, writing and other technical aspects of a film, I believe that would be counter-productive in the case of Soul. While I can comment and say that all of the above are handled extremely well, I think for this film the most critical aspect is that of it's message. It's one full of hope that everything will be okay and one that challenges you to dare to chase your dreams and live life to the fullest. I think many should watch this film in times of hardships and lost. It keeps things in perspective but also lets you know you'll be okay.
This film is another example of the brilliance of Pixar and the minds that run it. Just when you think you've seen everything, you really haven't.
Grade: A+
Soul is streaming now on Disney+