Why am I Here?

Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life? These questions have plagued humans since the beginning. We all want to feel useful, and we want to know that we have something to contribute. While Soul appears to explore these questions, most parents want to know more about this movie before allowing their children to watch. This Disney Pixar Soul Christian Movie Review is designed to give you the information you need before viewing the movie.

Pixar Animation Studios’ Soul explores What makes you…YOU. The main character, Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) is a jazz musician, but is currently a middle-school band teacher until he can get his big break. He wants to be a jazz pianist. On the day he is hired for the gig of his lifetime, he finds himself in the afterlife after falling down an open manhole.

Joe is not ready to leave the earth and escapes the final ascent into the Great Beyond by hiding in The Great Before where new souls are prepared before entering the Earth. Joe is assigned Soul 22 (Tina Fey) and tries to convince her to go to Earth.  On the journey to teach Soul 22 what is so great about living, he discovers answers himself.

Christian Mom Movie Review of Pixar Soul: The Good:

This movie explores themes that many people never talk about. Pete Doctor, Director of Soul, is a Christian. While this movie appears to look at what happens after you die, it actually is a movie about purpose and passion.

Doctor says, “…there’s more to living than a singular passion—as expressive and fulfilling as that may be. Sometimes the small insignificant things are what it’s really about. I remember one day I was biking and I stopped and picked a raspberry. It was warmed by the sun and became the most amazing raspberry I ever had. I still remember that nearly-nothing moment vividly. Almost any moment in our lives could be a transcendental moment that defines why we’re here.” 

The entire theme of the movie, Soul, is about our essence outside of our body. Obviously, this movie will explore spiritual questions and ideas.

The Bad:

This is definitely not a kids movie. There are moments that are slow-moving, but more importantly, the content of the movie is too philosophical for most children and most likely will not hold their attention. 

Language: The word hellish is spoken as is the word hell; however, it is in reference to the place.

Lost souls are portrayed as dark and scary at times.

Since this movie deals with after life, there are scenes that may be upsetting to children who have lost loved ones.

Some characters lie and try to cheat the system.

What Parents May Want to Know:

Soul explores spiritual themes. Some of these theme are inconsistent with Christianity, however, other concepts delve into things that are unknown and are just conjecture. 

There are also references to meditating and chakras. This movie includes sprinklings of different religious beliefs regarding the human soul.

Christian Mom Reviews Pixar Soul Movie: Additional Thoughts: 

Five years ago, I would have told you, “You die and go to heaven or hell after you die.” However, after my husband’s cardiac arrest, I have more unanswered questions than I have answers. Where was my husband for those 15 minutes when his body was dead? Did he get to come back or was the choice made for him? I don’t know if I will ever get those questions answered this side of eternity.

Ironically, while this movie is about the soul and the Great Beyond, little about this movie actually talks about how to ensure you get to the Great Beyond. It is more about making sure you figure out what makes you YOU in the here and now! As a Christian, I believe we are made of body, soul and spirit. If you are unsure of the differences, Christianity.com has an explanation that breaks it down.

Teaching with SOUL:

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE:

My Christian Mom Movie reviews (read my movie review guidelines) would not be complete without leaving you something to teach or explore with your children. This Pixar movie was originally released on December 25, 2020, streaming on Disney+. Obviously, for the Christian family, the birth of Jesus is our focus on Christmas Day. However, we also want to help our children find their passion. Why am I here? As Christians, we are here to glorify God. Talk to your children about how we best glorify God.

Since I believe that we each glorify God by living out the life He put us on earth for, this will look different for each and every one of us. Pete Doctor remembers a sun-kissed raspberry, but since I hate raspberries that would never be on my inspirational moments.

WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT THE AFTERLIFE?

​Discuss and research what the Bible says about the afterlife. This Christianity Today article answers some questions you may have.

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENTS:

Help your children identify inspirational moments and record those moments.

Think about a moment in your life that was that amazing. One such moment for me was drinking the best strawberry milkshake of my life in a small diner on an island near an army base in upstate Washington. All I thought is that I wanted to bring my husband back to share this experience. I drank that milkshake in 1990-something.

MUSIC:

While the movie Soul has a great jazz legend Dorothea Williams, she is not a real person. Study great jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald or Duke Ellington.

Additionally, research where jazz music began (New Orleans), but its roots began in Africa and Europe. The African American Culture is the birthplace of jazz. 

Jazz music is deeply steeped in black culture taking the sounds of Africa and adding European instruments.  

BUCKET LISTS:

Finding and sharing an amazing strawberry milkshake with the love of my life is a bucket list item for me! What are bucket list items? Have your children make a list of things they want to do before they grow up, get married, etc. Do you have a list? Show your children your list.

Additionally, moments from your life with your children that have been amazing. Consider doing an activity with your children where you celebrate the amazing moments. We have done a jar of stones with dates and a brief explanation. The children have also done their own memory boxes.

No matter which one you choose to do, make sure to include days that are amazing to you that other people will not understand such as the greatest strawberry milkshake. Teaching your children to identify moments that are special to them will help them see there isn’t just one thing that defines their life. While one good moment doesn’t define your life, one bad moment doesn’t have to either!

MY VIEWING RECOMMENDATIONS:

Soul is a difficult movie and explores such deep concepts that I would not recommend this movie to anyone younger than 10 years old. However, Soul can be a great springboard for discussing what your family and religion believe about the afterlife. Additionally, Soul has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95%.

About the Movie:

Rating: PG for thematic elements and some language

Release Date: December 25, 2020 straight to streaming on Disney+. Finally, Soul gets a theatrical release on January 12, 2024.

Runtime: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Genre: Fantasy/Comedy

Style: Animated Movie

Studio: Pixar Animation Studio

Director: Pete Docter

Written by: Peter Docter, Mike Jones, Kemp Powers

Produced by: Dana Murray

Edited by: Kevin Nolting

Music by: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste

Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Cast of Soul:

Joe Gardner voiced by Jamie Foxx

Dorothea Williams voiced by Angela Bassett

22 voiced by Tina Fey

Moonwind voiced by Graham Norton

Terry voiced by Rachel House

Jerry (soul counselors in the Great Before) voiced by Alice Braga, Richard Ayoade, Wes Studi, Fortune Feimster, and Zenobia Shroff

Libba Gardner (Joe’s mother) voiced by Phylicia Rashad

Dez (Joe’s Barber) voiced by Donnell Rawlings

Lamont “Curley” Baker voiced by Questlove

SPOILER ALERT:

In this Pixar film, Joe and Soul 22 come to earth. But Joe returns in a cat, and 22 is in Joe’s body. Much of the movie deals with the area between earth and eternity.