Film / Reviews
The Book of Life
The Book of Life (U)
USA 2014 95 mins Dir: Jorge R. Gutierrez Starring (voices): Zoe Saldana, Diego Lua, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Ice Cube, Kate del Castillo
“What is it with Mexicans and dead people?” demands a snot-nosed brat halfway into this vibrant, Guillermo del Toro-produced, Day of the Dead-inspired animation. We’ve certainly never seen quite so many skulls featured in a kids’ movie before, and it’s impossible not to warm to any family animation that namechecks the chupacabra within minutes of its opening credits.
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After a framing device explaining the concept of the Day of the Dead to nippers raised with rival, equally daft supernatural belief systems, the story kicks in – and promptly takes a back seat to all the visual invention. It’s a rather formulaic love triangle yarn, with two rival suitors vying for the affections of giant-eyed, modishly feminist Maria (Zoe Saldana). Sensitive, slightly drippy Manolo (Luna) comes from a long line of bullfighters and is expected to follow suit, but would rather be a musician. (“Kids today, with their long hair and not killing things,” tuts his bloodthirsty gran.) His love rival Joaquin (Channing Tatum) is a vainglorious military buffoon, who’s particularly proud of his medals and luxurious moustache. Bickering gods Xibabla (Ron Perlman), who oversees the barren Land of the Forgotten, and La Muerta (Kate del Castillo), who’s in charge of the colourful Land of the Remembered, agree to a wager on who will win Maria’s heart. Just in case there’s any doubt about who we’re supposed to be rooting for, Xibabla chooses Joaquin while La Muerta gets Manolo.
Sometimes you just wish they’d pause all that frantic action as the story races through all three worlds, so we can take in the sumptuous, gorgeously rendered landscapes and the richly detailed marionette-style character design. Thankfully, there are no tiresome pop culture references, though we do have to endure makeovers of songs by Radiohead, Mumford and Sons and Rod Stewart (‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?’ no less). It’s not as daringly dark as Corpse Bride or Coraline, and succeeds in comforting tots by making death seem like a continuous primary-coloured party, while bludgeoning home the full set of over-familiar morals (be true to yourself, love never dies, etc). That said, Book of Life is perhaps unique in suggesting that even dead people can learn to be better dads.
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