Up until this point I wasn’t really sure what to make of this film. Directed by Jorge Gutierrez (¡Mucha Lucha!, El Tigre) and produced by Guillermo del Toro, THE BOOK OF LIFE takes what seems like a typical Disney trope — a young man fighting impossible odds for the love of a girl — and puts a stylistically unique spin on it thanks to an ample dose of Mexican folklore and Gutierrez’s signature character designs.
Despite some odd voice casting for a film starring primarily latino characters (Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Ron Perlman) I’m definitely digging the overall tone and story shown in this first trailer, especially the transition from the land of the living to the land of the dead remembered. The best part? It comes out in time for Halloween!
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:
THE BOOK OF LIFE is the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favorites, THE BOOK OF LIFE encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future.