Coco - 3 1/2 smiles

"Coco," Pixar's latest, is a family-friendly effort that challenges with ideas rather than smothering with silliness. And when working with original material (rather than a sequel like Cars 3), Pixar is at its best. "Coco" takes us deep into Mexican culture by setting the movie south of the border on the Dia de Metros (Day of the Dead), when the spirits of the departed can visit their living relatives. In the Rivera household, music is banned. The ban dates back several generations when a woman, Mama Imelda (Alanna Ubach), was abandoned by her musician husband and left to raise her daughter alone. Despite the prohibition imposed by his great-great-grandmother, however, Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) lives for music. Bolstered by the 'do what you must to follow your dream' motto of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), Miguel seeks to prove himself in a talent contest, but his unorthodox means of obtaining a guitar catapult him and his dog Dante into the land of the dead, where he meets not only Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal), a good-natured con-artist, but many of his ancestors, including Mama Imelda. Not being a spirit, Miguel has until dawn to return to the Land of the Living lest he remain trapped forever. But when Mama Imelda offers to send him back, he balks at her condition and instead seeks out Ernesto de la Cruz, with whom he believes he shares a special connection.

Director Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo) understands how to blend child-appropriate material with mature themes. And while it doesn't work on two levels, like Toy Story 3, it comes close. It's strong enough to engage young viewers and their parents. And it has the requisites for a popular movie: the young protagonist is likable, the animal sidekick is cute, the villain is suitably nasty and there's lots of heart and soul. And while the music is not particularly memorable, the theme of family is an important one. The story focuses on Miguel's desire to find his father, Hector's love for his daughter, and the shared bond that develops between the two. The movie also highlights Dia de Metros customs and uses them to take us into a fantasy world. And there's plenty of comedy to go along with the emotion. "Coco" may not rate at the top of Pixar's best (like Up, Wall-E and Toy Story), but it's certainly close.