Soul Movie Review: What does it mean to have Soul?

Disney’s Soul is set to become an animated masterpiece, creating a passionate, and deep thinking storyline in a tough time.

By Benjamin Noel
Culture Columnist
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Disney wrapped up 2020 with an animated masterpiece, Soul, starring the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey and Phylicia Rashad. The story follows Joe Gardner, a middle school band teacher and jazz pianist extraordinaire that just can’t seem to catch a break. He finds himself treading water without getting any closer to his dreams. After a strange turn of events, Joe ends up in the “Great Before,” where he’s got to help a “Soul” find her spark. And through their journey, he finds out what it means to have soul.

This movie’s so well done, from the plot, to the music, I didn’t have a single bone to pick with it. 
And for those hesitant to watch a cartoon movie, worry not, this one’s something special. I’m not one for animated movies, but within about 5 minutes I left that attitude behind. The visuals immerse you into the New York atmosphere, down to the cracks in the concrete. More so than the visuals, the people make this story feel so real. We see how we can turn even our mundane daily interactions into something special. 

Disney could not have released this film at a better time. Since last March we have found ourselves stuck in a period of stagnation, and many of our favorite things about living are unrecognizable. It’s easy to lose our drive. But this movie shows us how we can find our spark even in the darkest, dreariest of times.

For so long, I’ve been searching for a movie that represents in some way, this situation we find ourselves living in. I’d always expected it to be an apocalyptic movie, or a prison film. Never in a hundred years did I expect Disney to create a movie that so well ties into our current situation. And never would I have expected it to provide the answer for surviving the pandemic. I highly recommend this film to anyone feeling stuck or lost in this period of turmoil and isolation. I hope you find your spark.