Joe (Jamie Foxx) is a middle school band teacher who, for years, has struggled to find a gig playing piano. While he has found mild success in the field of education, what he yearns for, more than anything, is to play the piano full time. When he finally seems to catch his big break, life hits him in the face. Soul is the story of Joe trying to find his way, and the way of a lost soul--22 (Tina Fey), in the afterlife. Their lives very literally depend on whether or not the two are able to work together and solve life’s biggest mysteries.
It appears that the purpose of Soul is to both entertain and educate viewers regarding the meaning of life. The message (and only the message) is heartwarming and has the ability to reach viewers, especially those who have found their calling and understand their purpose in life. However, Disney is known for constantly tugging at its viewers’ heartstrings, but throughout the course of the film, viewers struggle to fall in love with the characters, ultimately making it difficult for them to appreciate their stories and their struggles. Disney and Pixar have set a precedent for themselves and audiences around the world expect them to regularly live up to those standards. Ultimately Soul falls short of those expectations.
The journey is terribly boring and finds viewers struggling to pay attention throughout the bulk of the film. Sure, Joe has a goal in life that he desperately wants to achieve, but given his physical state throughout a good portion of the film, it is difficult to appreciate what he is going through and even more difficult to make a genuine connection with him. Furthermore, he doesn’t seem to possess enough emotion to draw on viewers’, making viewers feel a disconnect between themselves and what’s on screen. To be fair, it’s not Foxx’s fault that Joe seems emotionless; that, believe it or not, falls on the shoulders of the animation department at Pixar Animation Studios. Joe’s facial expressions throughout Soul don’t reflect some of what is taking place, causing the character to fall flat. Fortunately for Disney/Pixar and the handful of writers working together on Soul, a sidekick of sorts is present in the film. 22 is the reason many viewers are able to stick around. While she shines brightly and is somewhat lovable, the reality is that she becomes the primary focus of the film, and that’s an issue. It’s disappointing to see this supplementary character outshine Joe. While characters like Abu, Hei Hei, and Mr. Potato Head are relatable, endearing, and generally enjoyable, they never steal the spotlight from their respective stars, allowing their films to play out as planned. Having Joe’s sidekick steal the spotlight from him makes him (as a character) seem weak and unimportant at certain points throughout.
Soul feels like a struggle from the very beginning and causes viewers to feel a bit bored throughout. 22 ultimately steals the show and keeps it moving, but is unable to do enough to completely save it. While the combination of Disney and Pixar are typically able to impress viewers of all ages and backgrounds, Soul falls short of the precedents set by films like Toy Story and Up. In layman's terms: Soul is simply “okay.”
Directed by Pete Doctor & Kemp Powers.
Written by Pete Doctor, Mike Jones & Kemp Powers.
Starring Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House, Alice Braga, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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