Soul (2020) Dir: Pete Docter & Kemp Powers
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I recently had the opportunity to explore the expansive archives of Disney Plus, so I thought I would use the chance to watch some of the newer Disney films.
This one appealed to me due to a mixture of good reviews and pretty fond memories of the trailer. This Peter Docter and Kemp Powers directed animation is typical of Disney's family oriented films.
It is full of wholesome and heartwarming moments, each hitting home well. The narrative is smooth and easy to absorb. There is a twist that caught me off guard, but I actually quite enjoyed what it did for the story.
The consistent jazz themes and abundance of black characters was a refreshing thing to see. The animation is also typical of modern Disney and Pixar animations.
It's skillfully designed, constructed and makes for an all around wonderful film to look at. The cast is a quite eclectic selection.
Jamie Foxx stars as Joe, and I think this role perfectly illustrates his underrated versatility as an actor. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance.
Joining him is the ever popular Tina Fey, who always seems to give a decent account of herself. Rachel House is okay in her role, though she is outshone by Richard Ayoade. Daveed Digs is also quite enjoyable in a more minor role.
Angela Bassett features at intermittent intervals, but gives a vocal performance that suits her character down to a tee.
Finally, Graham Norton lends his voice to one of the more minor roles here, but brings his trademark energy to his role, to entertaining effect.
Overall, this is up there with my favourite Disney and Pixar projects of the last decade. It has some extremely fun moments, backed up by some wonderfully wholesome moments that make for a heartwarming family experience.
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