Coco: a mom’s review (aka should you bring your kids to see the film?)

Thinking about taking your children to see Coco? I’m telling you in my mom’s Coco review what you need to know as a parent…..

Two weeks ago, our family was invited to two special events celebrating the release of Disney Pixar Coco. I attended the Coco press junket where I got to hear from the actors and creators, and Lydia and I also got to attend a screening of Coco. When I shared a bit about the screening and the press junket on Instagram Stories……you ALL asked the same questions.

“Is it scary for little kids?” “Was Lydia afraid of the skeletons?”

What I Learned at the Press Junket: I’ve been to plenty of movie press junkets since I started blogging…..but there was something special about the Coco press junket. From the amazing all female mariachi band to the dancers performing traditional sequences…..the Coco press junket was a beautiful celebration of a beautiful culture.

As I listened the cast and creators discuss the film, one theme stood out to me. The ultimate message from Coco? The need to remember and to celebrate where you come from.

“What the Day of the Dead really represents for many of us, which is a time to celebrate in the memory of, and pass the stories on, and celebrate life at its fullest.”-Edward James Olmos (voice of “Chicharron”)

What We Did Before Seeing the Movie: The big question…..was Lydia afraid of the skeletons? My answer? If I’d just taken her to see Coco with no preparation…..she might have been. But I anticipated that, and did a couple things to help prepare her.

We actually visited the Dia de los Muertos area at Disneyland during Halloween. Lydia was able to see a real Dia de los Muertos altar and to learn about the traditions behind the day. I think that a simple book about Dia de los Muertos traditions would be a great alternate to this. We also had a number of discussions about the fact that Dia de los Muertos is a day to remember your family, your ancestors. We watched the Coco extended preview, so that she had a visual and could ask questions.

“And the more that I dug in, the more that I learned about how central family is to this celebration, and that Dia de Mortos is, you know, is all about this obligation that we all have to remember our loved ones, and to pass their stories along.” – Director Lee Unkrich

My Thoughts on the Film: This is a MUST SEE. The movie is stunning, and the music is GREAT. The lesson behind the film is one that all children will benefit from, and it’s pretty much guaranteed to make any adult cry like a baby.