Neighbor News
Movie Review - The Book of Life
Halloween may be coming, but this view of the Day of the Dead may offer even more family fun (and fewer carbs)
The Book of Life **** (out of 5) (PG) It’s hard to ask for more from any movie than this lively feature-length cartoon delivers. It’s based on the (primarily) Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead, known here mostly for its colorful, often comical skeletal figures. It actually honors everyone’s ancestors by remembering them joyfully with feasts, music and gaiety. In the film, as long as someone recalls the departed, they can spend eternity in a festive realm, surrounded by generations of loved ones, overseen by a loving spirit. The forgotten are doomed to a dreary substratum, ruled by a bitter deity.
The main action concerns a romantic triangle in which a village’s loveliest lass is wooed by the local military hero who protects the town from marauders, and his best friend - a gifted matador who would rather write songs and play his guitar, than follow his male ancestors to the bull ring. The gods running the two levels of eternity make a bet on which of them will win her hand, leading to a hyperkinetic adventure, with stunning visuals, lovely songs, comic relief and plenty of Valuable Messages for all ages. If convenient, go for one of the 3-D screens, since the deployment of that technology in this high-octane tale is well above average. (10/17/14)