Soul Review (2020) – A cosmic journey full of music, laughter, and magical insights about the meaning of life and existence!

This month is drawing to a close…but we are ending it with another wonderful and insightful film: Disney’s “Soul”. "Soul", on Disney+, isn't just an animated movie, it's a therapeutic session in and of itself. It is a wonderful film that encourages deep thinking and asking ourselves important questions. We love this thought provoking movie! So, get ready to dissect your life choices and ponder the meaning of existence with us!

A couple of trigger warnings for this film before we dive in, there is death, and the afterlife portrayed in this film. We personally have no qualms with this as we love films that question the world, and life. Why are we here? The simple and truthful answer is that we are here for the same reason any other animal on this planet is here for…to live. This film does so much more than simply asking why we are here, but it asks us to look inside of ourselves and find our own meaning. Moving on!

We will do everything we can to not give too many spoilers in this review but there are likely to be some, so please take that into consideration and read cautiously. Let’s get into it!

The movie begins with a hilariously bad playing of the Disney theme, fading into a middle school music classroom. Here we meet the music teacher and our main character, Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), who is standing in front of his classroom wincing as his class attempts to play their instruments.

Despite how bad the playing is, Joe is kind and patient with his students. Joe has a clear talent for teaching.

One of his students, Connie (Cora Champommier), gets lost in flow as she is playing her trombone. When she snaps out of it, the class is laughing and staring at her.

Joe gets them all to quiet down, and starts talking about his passion for jazz music and the piano. Joe wanted to be a jazz pianist! Joe plays the piano as he speaks to his class, and we get lost in his words, and his beautiful playing.

Someone peeks their head into the window on the door of the classroom to get Joe’s attention. Joe tells the class to keep practicing and that he will be right back!

He steps out of the room to talk to Principal Arroyo (Jeannie Tirado), she tells him excitedly that he is no longer going to be a part time teacher. He is now going to be a full time teacher! She hands him an envelope with the official paper work in it, and welcomes him to the school!

Joe looks less than thrilled. He takes the envelope and thanks her…but his body language and tone of voice are not excited. He looks down at the envelope as the principal walks away, with a pensive and downcast expression.

Joe walks back into the classroom, and gazes at the photos he has collected of great jazz musician’s that he has decorated his classroom with. He looks so crestfallen, and we potatoes were a bit confused by this.

Not because we do not understand that this is a complicated time for Joe. He had an idea in his head of what he was going to do and who he was going to be. We understand that completely! What we do not understand is why he can’t be both? Why can’t Joe be a jazz musician on the nights and weekends…and a teacher during the day?

We do not know! But Joe seems to feel like it is one or the other. Which we personally feel is incredibly limiting, but it is up to Joe at the end of the day!

We fade to a beautiful New York store front, “Libba’s Custom Tailoring and Alterations”. Joe is inside the shop talking to the women working there. Libba (Phylicia Rashad), the shop owner is his mom, and she is thrilled that he has finally been offered a fulltime job!

Joe is hesitant, and tells her that he has a plan…Libba’s tone changes from excitement to judgment. She wants Joe to accept the job no matter how Joe feels about it…she is very invalidating and insistent. She pushes Joe into telling her that he is going to say yes to the job.

While we truly feel that Joe is a great teacher and that he could have both in his life…it does not matter. What matters is how Joe feels about it, and he is not excited.  He has a right to his feelings, and he has a right to process them.

However, becoming a fulltime teacher does not mean that he is no longer a musician or that he can no longer gig. But again, this is entirely up to Joe. It’s his life. Not his mom’s. But we digress!

After reluctantly telling his mom that he is going to accept the job his phone starts ringing! He answers and it’s an old student of his named Curley, (Questlove)!

Curley presents Joe with an unexpected opportunity to play with renowned jazz musician Dorothea Williams, (Angela Bassett)! It's like winning the musical lottery, and Joe's excitement is infectious!

He is exhilarated and he rushes to get to the jazz club so he can audition! He is a bit awestruck by Dorothea, and nervous. But as the audition picks up he lets the music flow through him and into his transcendent piano playing.

Dorothea is impressed and he lands the gig, which is set for tonight! It does not give Joe a lot of time to get ready but he is too enthusiastic to care!

He is so distracted and ecstatic that he is not paying attention to his surroundings while he is walking through the bustling New York City streets and as a result…he accidentally takes a one-way trip to the “Great Beyond” by falling into an open manhole.

Now, to say that Joe's not exactly thrilled about being stuck in the Great Beyond would be an understatement, and who can blame him! He was this close to getting to play an amazing gig with THE Dorothea Williams. Upset, and desperate he somehow manages to break out of the Great Beyond!

But guess what? He does not land back on earth! Instead he ends up in the "Great Before," a place where souls are like little blobs of potential, eagerly awaiting their turn on Earth. Here he's met by cosmic counselors who are basically the universe's version of life coaches! We potatoes have to say that the way that the cosmic counselors are animated is incredibly interesting and fun!

We are going to start speeding things up a bit here as this film has a lot to cover. Joe is not supposed to be in the Great Before, but the counselors do not question it because they think that he is someone else! They believe that Joe is a mentor. Mentors are old souls that are assigned to help the new souls find their “spark” and get an Earth pass, which indicates that the soul is ready to live a life on Earth!

Here is where we meet 22 (Tina Fey), a grumpy and reluctant soul who's had more than enough of the counselor’s attempts to help her get her Earth pass! She is unimpressed with life and does not want anything to do with it! She's the ultimate skeptic, challenging every cosmic wisdom drop with a sarcastic eye roll.

Joe is assigned as 22’s mentor and they both quickly realize that they can help each other! 22 can stay in the Great Before by giving Joe her Earth Pass! The only problem is…she does not have an Earth pass because she has not found her “spark” despite being at the Great Before for an incredibly long time!

Joe becomes a bit fixated on the idea of a “spark” and is convinced that his has to be piano! Joe becomes so wrapped up in the concept of what a “spark” is and believes that it is his purpose and meaning.

We feel that this is both problematic and common thinking. We are encouraged to find our “spark” and our worth through work. While this can be the case for some, it is not the case for all of us! We can find that our “spark” does not involve our work at all, and that we find it within our hobbies and passions outside of work.

At the same time, we can have outside passions and have hobbies that are just that…hobbies. Our work does not have to be our “spark” and neither do our hobbies. There is a lot of pressure placed on having a “spark” or finding your “spark”, so much so that it can steal a lot of the joy out of our daily lives.

Fixating on the idea of having a purpose, or a “spark” can be incredibly detrimental as we can end up neglecting ourselves in the pursuit. It's crucial to recognize that while pursuing a “spark” can be fulfilling, it's not the sole determinant of any person's worth or well-being. Mental health requires a well-rounded approach that takes into account various aspects of life, including self-care, relationships, personal growth, and managing stress among other things. Balancing the pursuit of a “spark” with self-compassion and flexibility can be extremely beneficial in creating a sustainable sense of peace and well-being.

Also, not everyone even identifies with the concept of a “spark” in the first place, and that is perfectly fine and normal too! There is no “one size fits all” to life in general, or to a life well lived. But we digress!

Back to the film and we are wrapping it up! Joe and 22 embark on a whimsical quest to find 22’s “spark” and to get Joe to his gig! As they go about this they encounter lost souls, these beings “consumed” by their obsessions and anxieties. These lost souls are a metaphor for the struggles of mental health, trapped in a cycle of intrusive thoughts, and overwhelming emotions. The idea is that lost souls embody our inner demons.

We did appreciate the visual representation here, but at the same time we did find it to be overly simplistic. Mental health, mental illness, etc. is far more complicated than the movie portrays. At the same time though, it is a Disney Pixar movie, and there is only so real and dark they can get.

We greatly appreciate what they were able to do, and still find the film to be excellent overall. We also have to give a shout out to one of our favorite characters Terry (Rachel House)! Terry is hilarious!

Amid all of the laughter, cosmic escapades and a very cute cat, the movie delves into the importance of embracing life's everyday moments. Both Joe and 22 get to experience life from a whole new perspective. The film takes a look at what practicing gratitude can look like and how little Joe has been doing so throughout his life.

It emphasizes the significance of finding joy in simple pleasures, a crucial lesson for us all. Life is lived every day, and it is so easy to get caught up in the stress and pressures of life. The film encourages us to appreciate the small moments, realizing that life's purpose can often be found in the most unexpected corners.

While Joe and 22's interactions might seem like comedic banter, they're actually profound conversations about life's meaning and the value of the present. With hustle culture, and capitalism in general, it is difficult for many of us to remember that while the future may matter, the present is important as well. We potatoes are just as guilty of this as any other person!

We love this movie and we could not recommend it more! It is a delightful, and heartfelt exploration of life, healing and growth. It is a reminder that what we do and say matters. That every single day we are here matters. There does not have to be some big cosmic reason for us to be here, just living your life as best as you can, being open to growth, and being the best person you can be is more than enough.

So, let Soul take you on a healing journey that's both a philosophical odyssey and an emotional voyage. It's a visually stunning reminder that our lives are defined by the way we perceive them and to embrace simplicity and love. This wonderful film encourages you to find purpose and gratitude in every note, every laugh, and every moment of existence.

If you are someone who enjoys Pixar, films that make you feel introspective, and makes you think all while laughing and crying, then this is the movie for you!

We give this movie 5 Soul Cocktails out of 5!

The Soul Drinking Game

Take a sip anytime:

1.     Anyone says "Spark"

2.     Anyone says "Great Beyond"

3.     Anyone says "Mentor"

4.     Anyone says "gig"

5.     Anyone says "22"

6.     Joe talks about Jazz

7.     Terry says "Terry Time"

8.     Terry refers to herself as The Accountant or anyone refers to her as the accountant

9.     Terry talks about "The Count"

10.  Anyone mentions Dorothea Williams

11.  Anyone plays a musical instrument

12.  Anyone in the zone is roused awake

13.  Someone helps a lost soul

14. There's a reference to a famous historical figure

What did you think?? Did you like the movie? Did you hate it!? What movies do you think we should watch?! Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly!