Energetically Colorful Life a Book Worth Sharing
On a trip to the local museum, a rambunctious group of schoolchildren are whisked away by the beautiful and perky Mary Beth (voiced by Christina Applegate) into the secretive bowels of the building and told a special story the tour guide feels they need to hear. Today is The Day of the Dead, a hallowed Mexican holiday where family, past and present, living and dead, are celebrated. As such, Mary Beth decides the story of singing matador Manolo’s (Diego Luna) and his best friend the fearless soldier Joaquin’s (Channing Tatum) pursuit of the beauteous Maria’s (Zoe Saldana) hand in marriage is perfect for these kids, the trio’s travails, setbacks and victories just the kind of life-lessons these youngsters should know about to help set them on a positive path towards adulthood.
PHOTO: 20th Century Fox
According to the ancient Mexican texts the ruler of The Land of the Remembered, the regal La Muerte (Kate del Castillo), and the glum despot lording over The Land of the Forgotten, the impishly conniving Xibalba (Ron Perlman), made a wager involving Manolo, Joaquin and Maria. If the latter wins, he gets to move out of his depressing realm and take over her underworld kingdom of eternal warmth, celebration and love. If she comes out on top, then Xibalba will have to stop his duplicitous trickery and leave humanity alone, no more subterfuge and lying in order to see mayhem and chaos reign supreme.
The great thing about The Book of Life is, as straightforward as the story at the center of it might be, as obvious as much of what transpires is, there is a playful irreverence to the motion picture that’s pleasantly refreshing. The Mexican flavoring is intoxicating, the movie a jovial jaunt into an ethnically rich and lushly distinctive fairy tale world unlike anything domestic audiences have likely seen before.
Not that there are very many surprises. The love triangle between Manolo, Joaquin and Maria is routine, as are the truths each of them learn about how they are living their lives. It should also be noted that the prime villain, a cutthroat outlaw seeking a shiny McGuffin a member of the trio is in possession of, is too one-dimensional to feel like much of a threat, making the ferocious and frenetic climax come across as a wee bit half-baked.
Then there are the casting choices. For the most part they are terrific, the supporting roles, including del Castillo, Perlman, Hector Elizondo (as Manolo’s somewhat smothering matador father) and Ana de la Reguera (as his loving, if sadly departed, mother living in The Land of the Remembered), particularly so. On top of that, Luna is divine as the bullfighting mariachi hero, soulfully giving his all as he brings this optimistic songsmith to life.
But other choices don’t work nearly as well. Tatum, while throwing himself in with self-effacing aplomb, still doesn’t quite pass muster as Joaquin, and while he makes the most of what he’s got to work with honestly the script isn’t particularly kind to the character, undercutting him to such a degree he’s never as endearing as he be all accounts should be. Then there is Ice Cube as the powerful and jolly Candle Maker, an ethereal being who literally holds life and death in the palm of his hand. On the surface, the casting is inspired. In practice, sad to say the actor is close to unbearable, and after a few seconds of being around him I started to hope the character would just shut up and disappear.
PHOTO: 20th Century Fox
Still, this animated pieces of life-affirming entertainment is difficult to dislike. Beautifully composed, having a distinct visual style that reflects its cultural roots magnificently, there’s always something to marvel. The sequences in The Land of the Remembered are particularly stunning, while the reunion between Manolo and his mother is genuinely heartwarming. The musical choices, while at times undeniably odd, end up working nicely as far the grand scheme is concerned, and while the original compositions are more effective, and affecting, than the Latin-flavored cover tracks (wait until you hear this new version of Radiohead’s “Creep”) all still end up being outstanding nonetheless.
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, directed and co-written by animation wunderkind Jorge R. Gutierrez, I’m not sure The Book of Life could feel more authentic than it magnetically does. Even though there are a few bumps along the way, and while not all of the characters spring to three-dimensional life in the same vein as Manolo does, that doesn’t make watching the finished film any less of a joy. It’s a Mexican jaunt into a magical world where heroes are born from being true to their hearts and where friendship is the most powerful protection against evil that exists in all of creation. I really liked this one. Here’s hoping general audiences of all ages end up feeling the same.
Film Rating: 3 (out of 4)
