I was a fan of last summer’s “Cars 3,” but it was far from Pixar’s finest hour. Returning to a wheezy franchise for a third helping certainly didn’t inspire confidence in the company’s creative direction, and the last decade of production has found the beloved company relying on brand names to keep the lights on, making original works few and far between. “Coco” restores faith in the Pixar system, and while it doesn’t quite nail the thrilling invention of “Inside Out,” the picture represents some of the studio’s most colorful and culturally defined work to date, taking viewers into a vibrant realm known at the Land of the Dead, which doesn’t sound like a place anyone would want to visit, but the fantasyland provides a striking backdrop to an emotional tale of growth and remembrance. “Coco” is a beautiful movie, and the ending is sure to reduce most viewers to pudding, but it also serves as a reminder of Pixar’s free-range imagination when they step away from formula and sequels.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com