Soul: First Reactions To Disney/Pixar Film Are Good
Early reviews of Disney/Pixar’s Soul are very encouraging…
I was outside putting up Halloween Decorations when the tweet came in:
First Reactions For ‘Soul’ Are Calling it Another Emotional Triumph For Pixar https://t.co/ZmcEbgzMNQ
— The DisInsider (@TheDisInsider) October 11, 2020
And, unbeckoned, a huge sigh of relief came through.
It’s not that I had any real doubts. Nor did I think the hype was unwarranted – people in the know have been talking non-stop about this movie for a long time.
However: “2020.”
Image: Disney & Pixar
Thankfully, it looks like we’ve got something excellent coming our way.
Positive Early Reviews to Soul
The Hollywood Reporter’s Leslie Felperin wrote:
While the music is still ringing in my ears and the tears still drying, it may be too soon to be sure, but I think the Disney/Pixar’s latest feature, Soul, premiering at the BFI London Film Festival, lands somewhere in the top echelons. Directed by Pete Docter (Up, Inside Out) and co-directed by Kemp Powers (author of play-turned-film One Night in Miami), equipped with a screenplay and story credited to Docter, Powers, and Mike Jones, this densely packed, exquisitely executed, and just a teensy bit batshit film is peak Pixar. It’s a vintage mix of the company’s intricate storytelling, complex emotional intelligence, technical prowess, and cerebral whimsy on dexamethasone.
The fact that it is also embedded in African-American culture and features a diverse voice cast is another sparkling facet. But thankfully, like Coco with its Mexican setting and Latino input, Soul manages to avoid feeling tokenistic or patronizing.
Meanwhile, Skyler Shuler’s own reporing confirms the theory:
Pixar Animation Studios’ newest original film, Soul had its first for screening for those in attendance at this weekend’s London Film Festival, and it looks like its another win for the storied Disney-owned studio.
- Ben Rolph of Discussing Film called the film a “sweet, fun, thoughtful journey.”
- Maria Lattila of FilmHounds says “it’s Pixar at their most challenging and profound, pushing the boundaries of what can be done with the genre.”
- Whitlock and Pope calls Soul “another triumph for Pixar.”
Again, encouraging. But, then again, we don’t have long to wait to see the feature.
Coming On Christmas
On October 8, Variety reported:
Pixar’s “Soul” is skipping theaters and will debut exclusively on Disney Plus in time for Christmas. The animated family film will launch on the streaming service on Dec. 25. In international markets where Disney Plus isn’t available, “Soul” will be released theatrically on a yet-to-be determined date.
“Soul” was initially slated to release in June, but it was later postponed to Nov. 20 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Variety previously reported that Disney was exploring various release options for “Soul” and was unlikely to move forward with its late November slot. Universal’s decision to push the release of its animated comedy “The Croods: A New Age” forward from Dec. 23 to Nov. 25 — the same week “Soul” planned to launch — further solidified the possibility that the Pixar film would move.
Unlike “Mulan,” which released on Disney Plus for an extra $30, “Soul” will be available to Disney Plus’ 60.5 million subscribers at no extra cost. The streaming service costs $6.99 per month.
That said, I am not sure I am going to sit down on Christmas to watch a tear-jerker.
Meet me on the couch on Boxing Day?
