Mario’s Musings: Soul (2020)
It goes without saying that Pixar knocks it out of the park whenever they release a new film. Toy Story, Up, Inside Out, Monsters Inc., the Incredibles; you name it, it’s been hit by the proverbial bat. Pixar knows how to tug at your heart strings.
On Christmas Day they released their latest string puller on Disney+: Soul.
The story of Soul centers on Joe, a jazz pianist who teaches music at a middle school part time. Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx) is feeling stuck, because while he likes the steady paycheck, he yearns for a career in jazz, as that has been his lifelong passion, despite the disapproval of his mother. But when Joe runs into a former student named Curly (voiced by Philly’s own Questlove), he might finally get his big break. He impresses the legendary Dorothea Williams (voiced by Angela Bassett) with his piano playing and lands himself a spot in her band. Unfortunately, as Joe goes to get ready for his first performance, he falls into a manhole. It’s there that Joe ends up as a soul in the “Great Beyond” and then when he refuses to accept his time is up, “The Great Before”. It’s there that Joe sees unborn souls, including the rebellious 22 (voiced by Tina Fey).
Now, that synopsis sounds a bit much. And honestly, it’s easier watched than read, but that’s only the first 15 minutes of the movie.
I honestly can’t describe how this movie made me feel. Watching Joe’s character at the start of the movie, I felt like I knew him my whole life. I felt like I WAS him. I’m not a struggling jazz pianist, but I am an artist still trying to find his way. Like Joe, I too have had to justify my dreams to my family sometimes. And man, does he ever justify it to his mother in a rousing speech that made me tear up in ways not seen since Toy Story 3.
Yes, cold hearted Mar teared up. Stop laughing.
Honestly, I can’t recommend Soul enough. Pixar has come a long way from “the toys are alive when people aren’t in the room”, and that’s saying something considering how great the Toy Story movies are. Seeing someone go through hell and back to get to live out his dream was something I could seriously relate to. Well, some of it anyways. You’ll know what I mean when you watch it. But the gist of this movie’s message is to live life to the fullest. I know, that’s easier said than done. You may be working a job you hate, you might not have the ideal living situation, but there’s light at the end of tunnel, and sometimes, you might have to pull back the curtain yourself in order to get there.
Long story short, this movie is amazing. Jamie Foxx brings life to Joe, and Tina Fey works wonders as 22, being the perfect foil to Joe’s predicament. Get yourself a Disney+ subscription as soon as possible in order to watch this.