I'm genuinely asking because there has been a lot of heat in social media between people in my country that loves the movie and other that are infuriated foreigners have this particular mindset about us.

Personally I haven't seen it yet, but have to accept I'm kinda torn. I mean, it's cool our culture gets represented, but on the other hand there seems to be a misconception about us: we're way more complex than mariachi, tequila and small towns with alebrijes and dia de muertos... Sometimes I feel there are only two ranges of the spectrum Mexico gets represented outside: the pueblitos and people dressing in sarapes and sombreros or Mexico City, with crime and druglords and luxury.

Feel free to add your point of view, also would like to hear my brothers and sisters tell me how do they feel.

I feel like the only possible stereotype this movie may have is the music, mainly the mariachi and stuff, but in everything else, it doesn't seem like it's a walking stereotype, looks like Pixar really did their homework

I'm from Spain though I'm just saying that it doesn't give me that bad vibe. I have to wait til December 1st to watch it.

I feel like the only possible stereotype this movie may have is the music, mainly the mariachi and stuff, but in everything else, it doesn't seem like it's a walking stereotype, looks like Pixar really did their homework

I'm from Spain though I'm just saying that it doesn't give me that bad vibe. I have to wait til December 1st to watch it.

Eh, I have seen the trailer and the reviews by personal friends. I wouldn't know for sure until watching it, but my question goes more about what impression causes to you about us, not that they are stereotyping per se.

Eh, I have seen the trailer and the reviews by personal friends. I wouldn't know for sure until watching it, but my question goes more about what impression causes to you about us, not that they are stereotyping per se.

Watch the movie before you make any judgement. It's only fair.

Watch the movie before you make any judgement. It's only fair.

I'm not judging the movie.

If I got any sort of lasting, affecting impression of an entire culture from a cartoon, I'd have to seek professional help.

If I got any sort of lasting, affecting impression of an entire culture from a cartoon, I'd have to seek professional help.

Thank you.

If I got any sort of lasting, affecting impression of an entire culture from a cartoon, I'd have to seek professional help.

True, but I think AFMG is asking a broader question which could be framed as "if you had never learned a single thing about Mexico in your entire life or even heard of it, and then saw this movie and had to form an impression of it based solely on what you saw, what would that impression be." Obviously the question is a thought experiment, not intending to ask what your actual opinion of Mexico is, in order to gauge how well the movie represents the culture.

(I have not seen it and probably won't for a long time so I'm afraid I don't have anything useful to offer, but hopefully someone who has will since people are apprently having a difficult time understanding the OP's question.)

Probably my fault, as I see people think I'm judging a movie I haven't seen, which would be stupid of me, since I referred what is the buzz over here on social media.

But yeah, basically what you wrote.

If I got any sort of lasting, affecting impression of an entire culture from a cartoon, I'd have to seek professional help.

^THIS. Don't get choked up on online reviews. People who write about that clearly have nothing better to do in life...

I'm genuinely asking because there has been a lot of heat in social media between people in my country that loves the movie and other that are infuriated foreigners have this particular mindset about us.

Personally I haven't seen it yet, but have to accept I'm kinda torn. I mean, it's cool our culture gets represented, but on the other hand there seems to be a misconception about us: we're way more complex than mariachi, tequila and small towns with alebrijes and dia de muertos... Sometimes I feel there are only two ranges of the spectrum Mexico gets represented outside: the pueblitos and people dressing in sarapes and sombreros or Mexico City, with crime and druglords and luxury.

Feel free to add your point of view, also would like to hear my brothers and sisters tell me how do they feel.

Only 15% of Americans have ever left America and that's mostly tourists. When visiting Mexico they probably only venture to places like Acapulco which doesn't give tourists a true picture of the rest of Mexico. Not having seen the movie I can't comment on how accurately the country and its people are represented. As for people basing their impressions of a country solely on media: I'm German and I can tell you from talking to people who've never visited Germany they tend to think Germans walk around in Lederhosen and Dirndls, all day, every day.

Yeah, which is ridiculous. They just wear them all day on the weekends.

the thing is coco mostly represents the dia de muertos festivities somewhere in a small town (i havent seen it, did they say where the movie takes) with more traditional costums.
go to guanajuato or puebla to see these kind of cities, how they look on dia de muertos. over here in ensenada baja california celebrations for the dead are mostly reserved to shrines and thats it. schools may make a small festvity but its not required. theres no local grand party anywhere. meanwhile, in those states/cities, theres parties as monumental as if they were celebrating our independence.


dia de muertos in puebla:



dia de muertos in ensenada:



theres a big difference.

I think that's literally the first time I've ever seen Kooshy make a post that has some kind of actual value. Good job, buddy.

I liked it. May not be the best way to portray mexico, but the setting delivers the point of the movie (which is respect and cherish family or something)
something that i didn't quite get was which age was the movie set on, maybe the 80s, 90s? not sure. I'd have a problem if it was the "current times": 2010 and beyond...mostly because i dont think there're "pueblitos" like those anymore. but who knows. also, i'm disappointed that no mexican studio came up with a similar idea before (even if they had, it will never be as big as a pixar movie)
Besides, the celebration differs from state to state, so in that aspect i can't actually comment (in the sense of "that's exactly how you do it", "we don't do it like that, the steps are as follows..." or "everything is wrong". Still, parades and that kind of thing like it was portrayed on that 007 movie was not a thing before... but times change)
All in all, the movie is not yet available internationally, so I guess it'll take some time for people to respond to this thread...

So I did watch it...

The amount of effort put into research is astounding. They made a great and respectful portrayal of Mexican traditions. But as ROKUSHO said, they did research in Michoacan, Guanajuato and State of Mexico, so that portrayal of Dia de Muertos is specific to those parts. On the other hand, cramming too much into it or including the big city would have detracted from the overall plot.

I'll hold on my full review, since it hasn't been relased in other parts. Suffice to say, leaving the excellent portrayal and research, there are other aspects that I'm not pleased at all.