Thank the heavens that we now live in a day and age when it is acceptable to be into cartoons and animated films as an adult, because The Book of Life is not something you want to miss.
The plot is one that we have all seen before, but it’s individualized with the meaningful and visually stunning culture of Mexico’s Day of the Dead. Whether you are man enough to go on your own or you need to borrow your little cousin as a crutch, I’d urge anyone to see this heartwarming tale of love in the time of Dia de los Muertos.
The film begins with a story about the Day of the Dead told by a museum guide, courtesy of Christina Applegate’s voice. It describes a rich and fantastical history of the holiday, and it is ripe with all the beauty and poeticism that is often seen in Mexican mythology. A collection of lovable characters are introduced, made even more so by their famous voices: Channing Tatum as Joaquin, Diego Luna as Manolo, Zoe Saldana as Maria, and the eternally awesome Ron Perlman as Xibalba. Thus begins a tale about life and death, and how life comes from the love we feel, all set against a backdrop of some truly amazing animation and wonderful music.
Perhaps what I liked best about this film was that it delved into subject matter that is often ignored in children’s entertainment but is just as important as happily ever after: death. Death is something that we will all face at some point or another, and The Book of Life did an amazing job of addressing the certainty of it in a way that was celebratory and not morose. It also honored a completely separate culture from our own, and in doing so encouraged the acceptance of those different from ourselves. This alone is a message that everyone should constantly be taking away from films and television.
The film manages to surprise and delight, even amongst such heavy content.
If you’re familiar with the work of Guillermo Del Toro, then you’ll probably be as excited as I was to find out that he was producing this ocular feast. Each scene is magical and charming, featuring the kind of spellbinding visuals that you come to expect from Del Toro. I would not be surprised in the least to see this film become a family favorite, one to be revisited year after year, even if you don’t yet have a family of your own (hello, college kids).
It’s got heart, it’s got art, and at the very least we all know how obsessed everyone is with sugar skulls these days.
