Soul Less Than It Could Be

Pixar's Soul is a very good film, but it is far less effective than it could be. The main culprit is the now expected "imaginative element" that strips the story of its power and impact. By incorporating the Mormon (Church of Latter Day Saints) belief of "Premortality" - where people before birth lived in the presence of God without a physical body - into the plot, the storytellers avoid going deeper into the life of main character Joe Gardner, his family, his friends, and Black culture. Much like how the Black Lives Matter movement loses points and impact by aiming to "disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure", Soul loses a chance at being a much better film by trying to be clever. Instead of using the time to further develop Joe's story to even greater depth, there's too much time and emphasis placed on the struggles of the film's spirit world.

That said, there's more to celebrate here than to be disappointed by! Jamie Foxx is terrific as Joe, everyman middle school music teacher who longs for more. Tina Fey is annoying and effective as "22", the troubled spirit who accompanies Joe on his quest. Some self-proclaimed culture watchdogs have problem with her casting, but let's grow up. Humans interact with all types of people from different backgrounds and cultures and of different colors. Actors should have the freedom to act. It's part of their job description inherent in their title. 

An easy win is the sparkling music and the now expected life-like animation. Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and especially Jon Batiste create a compelling musical foundation that strengthens the story Pete Docter and team wanted to tell. Singer Cody Chesnutt is especially good as the musician who chooses a subway station as his busking locale. From an animation standpoint, the scene where Joe sheds a tear is powerful in its understatement and simplicity. 

While the music is excellent, it is the wide scope of characters and how they interact that gives Soul its depth. Unlike too many Disney films in particular, Joe comes from a traditional two parent- male and female - family. The character of his mother wisely avoids stereotypes. She's both strong and independent without being militant or disrespectful of others. When we first meet her, Joe's musical idol is imperfect, displaying a jaded and somewhat snobby attitude. Joe's friends in the barber shop run the gamut of personalities. In other words, his world is filled with normal people trying to make it in a difficult but often amazing world. Kudos to the writers for balancing the difficulties of being Black in America without pushing agendas. These factors make Soul accessible to all and a story everyone can embrace and learn from. As Dr. John Perkins states in his excellent book One Blood, a must-read for people of every color, we are 99% more alike than we are different. Something our politicians, Hollywood, and people in general, would be wise to remember.

(Image copyright Pixar.)