It is a good movie, with stretches of greatness.

There is truth in what they have to say, though don’t let that scare you; it is fun to watch these personalities bounce off each other.

Though most of what is going on outside of her central story is only okay, when it concentrates on Sandra it is really good.

The result is depressingly short on Wonder; it is just a Woman in 1984.

Soul uses some of the themes Pixar has dealt with before, but plays them using different notes; creating something that feels new.

There is so much life and emotion, in both the words and the acting, that the staging seldom feels limited.

This isn’t merely a spin on a genre; it is a thoughtful character study that subtly tackles womanhood, motherhood and race.

Its production, structure and performances are all fantastic, making for an entertainment as alive as the classic that inspired it.

It is largely charming and its heavier themes, while occasionally being dealt with in a clumsy manner, are certainly not discarded.

It contains individual scenes that are compelling, but is largely unable to carry the tension over to its plotting and one major character.