Film Snail

7.5

The Book of Life

PG·2014·95m

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Fantasy

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Fantasy

Summary

The journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears.

Cast

Diego Luna

Manolo (voice)

Channing Tatum

Joaquin (voice)

Zoe Saldaña

Maria (voice)

Christina Applegate

Mary Beth (voice)

Eugenio Derbez

Chato (voice)

Cheech Marin

Pancho Rodriguez (voice)

Gabriel Iglesias

Pepe Rodriguez (voice)

Ron Perlman

Xibalba (voice)

Kate del Castillo

La Muerte (voice)

Ana de la Reguera

Carmen Sánchez (voice)

Dan Navarro

Chakal (voice)

Ice Cube

Candle Maker (voice)

Hector Elizondo

Carlos Sanchez (voice)

Danny Trejo

Skeleton Luis (voice)

Carlos Alazraqui

General Posada / Dali / Chuy (voice)

Emil-Bastien Bouffard

Young Manolo (voice)

Elijah Rodriguez

Young Joaquin

Genesis Ochoa

Young Maria (voice)

Plácido Domingo

Skeleton Jorge (voice)

Grey DeLisle

Grandmother (voice) (as Grey Griffin)

Trey Bumpass

Goth Kid / Orphan

Miguel Sandoval

Land of the Remembered Captain (voice)

Ben Gleib

Goya / Dali (voice)

Ricardo El Mandril Sanchez

Pablo Rodriguez (voice)

Ishan Sharma

Sanjay

Jorge R. Gutierrez

Skeleton Carmelo (voice)

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes

Adelita / Nina (voice)

Kennedy Peil

Sasha (voice)

Sandra Equihua

Scardelita (voice)

Callahan Clark

Jane (voice)

Gunnar Sizemore

Ignacio (voice)

Angélica María

Sister Ana (voice)

Eric Bauza

Father Domingo / Cave Guardian (voice)

Aron Warner

Thomas (voice)

Sandra Echeverría

Claudia (voice)

Tonita Castro

La Muerte as Old Woman (voice)

Troy Evans

Old Man Hemingway (voice)

Guillermo del Toro

Land of the Remembered Captain's Wife (voice)

Brad Booker

Conductor (voice)

Rosemary Alexander

Additional Voices (voice)

Steve Alterman

Additional Voices (voice)

Eva Bella

Additional Voices (voice)

Madison Carlon

Additional Voices (voice)

Vicki Davis

Additional Voices (voice)

Moosie Drier

Additional Voices (voice)

Cullen McCarthy

Additional Voices (voice)

David Michie

Additional Voices (voice)

Michelle Moores

Additional Voices (voice)

Jonathan Nichols

Additional Voices (voice)

Al Rodrigo

Additional Voices (voice)

Marcelo Tubert

Additional Voices (voice)

Lynnanne Zager

Additional Voices (voice)

Ruth Zalduondo

Additional Voices (voice)

Newell Alexander

Additional Voices (voice)

David Cowgill

Additional Voices (voice)

Elisa Gabrielli

Additional Voices (voice)

Richard Miro

Additional Voices (voice)

Arthur Ortiz

Additional Voices (voice)

Nathaniel Semsen

Additional Voices (voice)

Joe Matthews

Young Manolo (singer)

Jose Alvarez

Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)

Crew

Director, Writer

Jorge R. Gutierrez

Writer

Doug Langdale

Reviews

Geronimo1967

August 25, 2023

The big eyes and the slightly cardboard-box style of animation is really quite engaging as we follow the tale of "Manolo". He's an excitable young man who finds himself torn between staying home and living the life his family want him to, and setting off and having some adventures of his own. It's the latter draw that prevails and after a trip to the museum with his friends, he is soon dealing with demons from within and without that challenge his very essence, his being - his soul, even. The story is steeped in history, in myth and in imagination and is colourfully and vividly delivered using a clever mix of dialogue, music and quite often just the richness of the imagery itself. Can this young man play games with those more experienced, malevolent, cunning and find the happiness he is looking for? Of course - there is jeopardy too - if he gets it wrong, then all humankind is going to suffer! There's even a gentle hint of a childish love triangle as the story builds to quite an entertaining - if predictable - denouement. It's a classy bit of cinema this, with plenty of strong characterisation, action, some darkness and just enough to keep the brain ticking over too. Cinema is best - it brings out the vivacity of the whole thing so much better.