I’m always up for a major studio movie that focuses on Mexican lore and culture, a segment of North American society that I think is shamelessly underrepresented in the media. I’m also enthusiastic about anything that flows from the original and creative genius of Guillermo del Toro, who backed an produced The Book of Life, while Jorge Gutierrez directed.

If only I were more comfortable with the animation! Oh the colors are rich and vibrant—I find no fault with the palette, which is quite gorgeous. It’s the human characters that creep me out. Maybe they’re supposed to. It is a film about the afterlife, after all. But dangling noses and some characters who look like interlocking blocks, while others look like spaghetti noodles or bizarre monkey cows make me uncomfortable. The lack of consistency makes me uneasy. Then again, the much beloved and ever enduring Spongebob also creeps me out, so what do I know?

Odd thing: When I told people I was writing about The Book of Life, the first thing they asked me was, “Oh, is that the one with Channing Tatum?” Well yes, it is, but why that’s the thing that sticks in everyone’s mind is beyond me. Other voice artists, most of them attempting Spanish accents, include  Zoe Saldana, Christina Applegate, Ron Pearlman, Ice Cube, Diego Luna and Placido Domingo, among others. They all do just fine with a story that dances in and out of a standard narration.

All in all, The Book of Life is a fun film to see with the wee ones in order to get them feeling all warm and Halloweenie. They’ll get some great ideas for costumes, and it’s colorful, harmless fun.

Rated PG

1 Hour 35 Minutes

http://youtu.be/Vs5b3LYWZmA