Movie review
October 27, 2017 · 105 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Coco follows 12-year-old Miguel as he defies his family's generations-old ban on music to pursue his dream, entering the Land of the Dead on Día de los Muertos and uncovering the truth about his ancestors. The story centers on family reconciliation, honoring traditions, personal passion balanced with duty, and the power of memory in a vibrant Mexican cultural setting. No modern identity politics, activist dialogue, institutional critiques, or forced representation elements appear in the narrative or marketing.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Coco.
Woke representation / casting
All-Latino cast for Mexican characters in a Mexican setting aligns directly with the story premise and world.
Woke political dialogue
No political, activist, or ideological dialogue exists in the film.
Identity-driven story themes
Mexican cultural heritage, family traditions, and ancestor remembrance form a recurring positive foundation for the central conflict and resolution.
Western institutional / cultural critique
No modern activist critiques of institutions, gender norms, capitalism, or traditional family structures; traditions are affirmed.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. Original story with only minor non-plot homages.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No significant backlash accused the film of pushing woke, activist, or left-wing content; pre-release trademark issue was unrelated appropriation concern from the opposite perspective.
Creator track record context
Unkrich has no activist history; Molina's cultural background informed authentic details but shows no prior pattern of identity-driven or political projects.
Production
