Set in the hustle and bustle of New York City, one middle school band teacher’s life will change forever. Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) lands the gig of his life where he gets to play jazz with Dorthea Williams (Angela Bassett). However, his dreams are left unfulfilled when one wrong step in the street will take Joe into the afterlife. As Joe tries to avoid the “Great Beyond,” he ends up in the “Great Before” where he must mentor soul 22 (Tina Fey) in hopes of returning to earth before he misses his performance. In doing so, Joe must avoid the accountant, Terry (Rachel House), who is trying to set the afterlife count right.

“Soul” is an incredible story that sends the message that life is more than meets the eye. It highlights the everyday gifts of life that many take for granted or do not take time to appreciate. The story also discusses mental health and how spoken words can hurt in unexpected ways. This film will inspire the audience to chase their dreams and find contentment where it counts.

The script does a great job at showing how complicated life on Earth is, but how simple it can be at the same time. It also shows the complexity of human interactions and passions, showing that even though someone may love something it could be hard for them to continue down that path.

This film is the perfect combination of comedy and drama. The audience will laugh and cry all within 90 minutes as well as being surprised by some cameos along the way. “Soul” brings a focus on spirituality and metaphysical questions that will keep the audience intrigued.

The animation is spectacular, showing that Pixar continues to evolve their skills to allow each film to be unique. The way Pixar used 2D animation in a 3D world is spectacular. The models for dead and unborn souls is a very creative way to illustrate them. Their depiction of the “Great Before” is a very unique and creatively stylized way to show how unborn souls get their personalities and sparks.

The music of this film is excellent. The jazz music is so immersive that it feels as if the audience is in the film. The score helps bring New York City to life.

“Soul” is the first Pixar movie to have a black lead. This movie provides a great representation of black culture. “Soul” is only the 4th American animated film to make a black character the title role, following “Bebe’s Kids” (1992), “The Princess and the Frog” (2009) and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018).

Foxx and Fey do an excellent job of bringing their characters to life. The audience can relate to 22’s struggle to find her passion and Joe’s willingness to do what it takes to achieve his dream.

“To me, Joe represents a lot of people who aren’t being seen right now,” Foxx said of his role in the film. “Joe is in all of us, regardless of color. To be the first Black lead in a Pixar film feels like a blessing, especially during this time when we all could use some extra love and light.”

“Soul” is another spectacular film to come from Pixar Studios with a story that will resonate with everyone in some way leaving the audience asking questions about spirituality and the afterlife. Unlike the Pixar standard to make films pointed towards children that adults can enjoy, this film feels like it was made for adults. The message is one that is unforgettable that will give everyone a new perspective on life. I highly recommend this film which is now available to stream on Disney+. I rate this film a 4.5 out of 5 tiger paws.