Early reviews for Pixar's Soul are in, and it's looking good for the animated adventure which stars Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Angela Bassett, and Phylicia Rashad.
As the first movie from the studio to feature a Black lead, there are high expectations surrounding this one, but it looks like families will definitely have something special to tune into on Christmas Day (especially with it looking likely that Wonder Woman 1984 won't play in theaters as planned).
So, what are the critics saying?
"'Soul; is perhaps the most existentially ambitious film ever attempted by Disney and yet it pops with colorful visuals and gentle wisdom while the story clips along despite the dizzying height of the concept," says The Wrap, with fellow trade The Hollywood Reporter, noting: "It's a vintage mix of the company's intricate storytelling, complex emotional intelligence, technical prowess and cerebral whimsy on dexamethasone."
The Independent awards Soul 5*, explaining that "[N]ot only does Soul live up to Pixar's own impossibly high standards, but it represents the very best the studio has to offer: beauty, humour, heart, and a gut-punch of an existential crisis." There's another 5* score from The Telegraph despite some unhappiness it's heading straight to Disney+. "Disney's decision not to release this metaphysical animation in cinemas is dismaying. But its artistry and insight will shine on any screen," they write.
indieWIRE goes with an A- score, saying, "Like some of the best jazz compositions, it uses a traditional framework to veer off in many unexpected directions, so that even the inevitable end point feels just right."
Right now, Soul has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, but many more reviews will arrive online much closer to the Pixar movie's December 25th release date on Disney+.
Are you excited to check this one out?