I don’t make it a secret that I thoroughly enjoy Disney and most Disney related things (obviously, their projects aren’t infallible). So it won’t be a surprise to hear that I loved Disney/Pixar’s new animated adventure, Soul. The story follows an overabundantly eventful day (at least it seems like it’s all in one day) in the life of Middle School music teacher, Joe Gardner as he seeks to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional Jazz pianist. The opening of the film, set in the classroom that Joe teaches, gives the audience a jarring but unique intro to the movie and stands out against the historically polished intros from previous films. Having performed in Middle School band myself, the off-key notes and failure to stay on beat was a hilarious introduction to the story.
Viewers will feel comfortable with the design and animation since it borrows heavily from other Disney ventures like Inside Out. Still, I was pleasantly surprised at some of the bold ways they ventured into new animation styles. Namely, the afterlife scene where Joe runs from his fate and transitions from the “Great Beyond” to the “Great Before.” It’s here that I believe we see the profound affect that Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse had on mainstream animation. The hypnotic blend of 2D and 3D environments/effects is stunning to watch, reminding me of the weightless feeling I got watching Interstellar. I should also mention that the simplistic design of the “entirety of the universe condensed” beings of Jerry(s) and Terry was something I really enjoyed, specifically Terry’s chase scene in the real world.
Soul tackles a number of interesting themes/subjects, mostly focusing on the concept of determinism and how it influences and affects our lives. While I am not a fan of the deterministic outlook, the movie portrayed it in a fun and clever way as we watch new souls run around the “Great Before,” trying to complete their personality wheels and find their “spark” to prepare them for life on Earth. I thought it was particularly clever to portray one of the Jerry(s) sending multiple new souls into the “self-absorbed” and “insecure” building to be branded with those personality types; only to be scolded by another Jerry for it. The movie’s events seem to drive the audience away from determinism though, favoring a Jazz-like approach to life in which people are allowed to experiment/riff and see for themselves what purpose really means to the individual. While the movie doesn’t necessarily paint the deterministic outlook in a negative light, it actively attacks the concept of being hyper-focused on one thing/purpose. When he “dies,” Joe Gardner assumes that his life can’t be over because he died before he could accomplish anything. At the end of the film though, after literally achieving his long-desired dream, he is left feeling fairly empty about the whole experience. One could argue his empty demeanor had more to do with his regret over essentially abandoning 22, but his final encounter with the now “lost soul” and subsequent speech at the end of the film remind the audience that it is okay to simply live every minute of life without having to chase one singular goal or dream.
I was particularly interested in the way the movie portrayed the “lost souls,” symbolic representations of people who are consumed by the anxieties of life and become subsequently disconnected from it. It wouldn’t take many of us long to identify people in our lives that fall under this category; or sadly, ourselves. While there is little probability that a group of mystics exists that could metaphorically pull us out of slumps like that, it was an encouraging message to include, letting people know that life doesn’t have to be that way. The inclusion of Joe’s barber, Dez, also reminds us that dreams don’t have to be one way tunnels. It also reminds us to care about the journeys of those around us. You never know where inspiration can come from.
Soul’s biggest issue seems to be opening questions that are never really addressed like: Why was Joe the only soul worried about going into the giant bug-zapper in the sky? Surely he wasn’t the only soul in the world to suddenly die and feel like they hadn’t accomplished their dreams. Why was it so easy to abandon the “stairway to Heaven?” How did the cat’s soul make it back to its body? Who the heck is Lisa? How can the mystics just come and go the way they do? Why do the people who are “in the zone” and those who are stuck wandering as “lost souls” share the same mystical space? At the end of the day though, the audience can easily forgive these lapses, as the driving force and message behind the story is powerful enough to keep us drawn in. My biggest issue with the film lies in the deterministic/predestination theme. I’m not at all inclined to believe that aspects of my personality and life were predetermined. It potentially becomes a dangerous concept if people use it as an excuse to defer responsibility for how they act or for the things they say.
Wrap Up
A part of me laughed at the irony of watching a movie about living life to the fullest when life as we knew it has been frustratingly and possibly irreparably altered by Covid-19. When I took a step back and really looked though, I realized that I am currently knee-deep in evaluating and altering my own dreams. Sure, I’m trapped in my house but life is continuing on and I am venturing out into unknown territory as a blogger/author. As we are all suddenly face-to-face with mortality, how do we choose to respond to the challenge? Obviously, it shouldn’t be done recklessly, but we need to be reminded that it is okay to simply live. 22 found inspiration in a spool of thread, pizza, lollipops, and even a simple seedling that floated down to her. For 22, it was the little things that made life on Earth worth trying. Searching for these little things is already an uncommon practice but is one that today’s society suddenly has more than enough time to do. The caveat to that search though, is to also take the time to really appreciate them. Also, if “our dream” doesn’t end up being everything it was cracked up to be, we can’t be afraid to step away and find our purpose or meaning in something new.
Riot’s Rating: 9.5/10
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