This Pixar knockoff from 20th Century Fox is more imaginative than most, though like far too many of them, it’s undone by a surfeit of glib one-liners and pop culture references. Based on Mexican folklore surrounding the Day of the Dead, the story centers on two lifelong friends, each watched over by a different lord of the underworld, who compete for the heart of a beautiful, headstrong girl. The character design is impressive, with figures that seem to be made of wood, hardened sugar, or melted wax. Jorge R. Gutierrez directed.
The Book of Life
PG • 1 hour 35 min • 2014
