Pixar's upcoming feature film Soul has encountered a few release date delays, but according to early reviews, it will absolutely be worth the wait. Directed by Pete Docter, Soul was originally set to debut in June 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic closed theaters around the globe. For a time, Disney believed the movie could release theatrically in November but since then, the company has announced Soul will premiere exclusively on Disney+ for subscribers on Christmas Day. The animated tale notably features a voice cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Daveed Diggs, and Angela Bassett.
Soul follows Joe Gardner (Foxx), a passionate middle school music teacher who dreams of performing jazz music onstage. When he finally gets an opportunity, Joe experiences an accident, leaving his soul separated from his body. Rather than go to "The Great Beyond," Joe escapes to the "The Great Before," a world that gives souls the chance to develop personalities. Joe must then find a way to get back to Earth before it's too late.
Soul not only features a heavy dose of jazz music composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, but also dives deep into themes of life, death, and mortality. Like all Pixar movies that came before, Soul will cater to viewers of all ages as it shares a story about a man in a precarious situation. As of this writing, Soul currently holds an astonishing 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics praised the spectacular visuals, jazz composition, and ambitious storytelling when it comes to the existential focus. Here's what some of the most positive reviewers of Soul had to say:
The animation finds a way of embedding the music right into the colors and shapes of the film that's pure magic and pays homage to the rhythms and phrasing of jazz and hip hop artists, some of whom appear as voice actors or musicians in the film (including Questlove, Daveed Diggs and John Batiste).
As the first entry in the Pixar canon to center on a Black character, this magical crowdpleaser has obvious representational value, so it’s especially gratifying to see how well it epitomizes the proverbial Pixar touch.
Soul is perhaps the most existentially ambitious film ever attempted by Disney and yet it pops with colorful visuals and gentle wisdom while the story clips along despite the dizzying height of the concept.
With nearly all movies, not every aspect can be perfect in the eyes of all viewers. While most current reviews are positive, some pointed out Soul doesn't fully meet the high expectations placed on a Pixar film. Seeing as Docter directed previous installments like Monsters, Inc., Up, and Inside Out, the benchmark is incredibly high. While nearly all current critics agree that Soul achieves greatness, some argue that it's missing something. Here's what some of the light criticism pointed out:
For all its vision, though, it’s a little Pixar-lite. It’s a gorgeous 100 minutes, but not a huge emotional journey. The stakes seem strangely low, all things considered, without the big weepy gut punches you might hope for, certainly of the potency that Docter’s unleashed in Up and Inside Out.
Soul might not be as successful as Docter's previous Pixar movies, but even with its flaws, the Disney+ move automatically makes it the best Disney+ movie yet – although you will wish you'd seen it on the big screen.
All in all, Soul looks to be another bonafide hit for Disney and Pixar. In a year when the world needs a little positivity, Soul couldn't come at a more perfect time. With a mix of humor and heart, viewers will be able to experience the holiday season with a highly-anticipated title without having to worry about a trip to the theater. Luckily, unlike Mulan, Soul will be available to Disney+ subscribers at no extra charge.
