Soul is Pixar's latest offering, which was released on Disney+ on Christmas Day, touches on some serious issues. From life after death, the differences between a soul and a body, the desire of chasing a dream and the complex relationships between friends and family. However, ultimately, it is also a very exciting journey between two characters who start out as strangers and become friends.
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Joe Gardner and 22 are polar opposites when they first meet in the Great Beyond as souls, and they certainly have a rollercoaster of a friendship. From Joe (played by Jamie Foxx) trying to get 22 (Tina Fey) to become a human to him ending up in the body of a cat, there's a lot going on for both of them in this movie. These two lead characters offer something very different to the movie, but that makes each of them very unique.
Joe: His Passion
The big personality trait that Joe brings to the movie is passion. His love for jazz and desire to be the best at it is something that is truly inspiring, and watching him express his excitement about music and his love of piano really does make him a fun character.
His joy radiates from him, despite the fact he's just an animated character. It's something that makes him a lot of fun to watch whenever he's on-screen talking about it, and while he's sometimes a little too obsessed, it certainly does make him a great character, as he has a real purpose.
22: She Has More Energy
While this is obviously down to the manner in which the characters are written and animated, the fact is that 22 brings tons more energy to the movie than Joe. Even when she's trying and hating the different potential sparks in the Great Beyond, she's got more energy about her than Joe.
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That is because Joe's quite a relaxed character for the most part, which is fine. But when it comes to animation, big personalities always win the day, and that is certainly the case within this pairing.
Joe: He's A Fighter
Even though 22 has more energy as a character overall, for large chunks of the movie she's uninterested in actually progressing or developing as a character. That isn't the case for Joe, who is certainly willing to push for everything he's got as he literally is spending the movie fighting for his life.
Joe refuses to die before getting his big break, and seeing him battle and scratch to get his life back is something that really makes him a fighter. It adds a lot of passion and excitement to his character, showcasing the drive that Joe certainly has.
22: Speaking From The Heart
As the movie progresses it becomes very clear that something Joe isn't good at is communicating. Whether that be with his friends or his family, Joe struggles with making his feelings known or speaking about anything that isn't jazz music, which does make him quite a two-dimensional character for parts.
However, 22 has no problem in talking about her feelings and just going off on a tangent and explaining all manner of things. This is especially true when she's trapped in Joe's body, which leads to some amazing conversations with the likes of Dez, and Joe's mother, Libba.
Joe: His Scenes As A Cat
When Joe and 22 fall to Earth as Joe attempts to get back into his body, things go wrong, and Joe's soul finds itself in the body of a cat. This is where Pixar really comes alive, doing what it does best with forward-thinking, out of the box ideas like this, which just works perfectly.
The scenes with Joe as the cat are incredibly funny as he learns to adapt to life in the feline creature. It's just good-natured fun that only really works in an animated movie, but it certainly helps Joe standout.
22: Showcases A Lust For Life
A lot of the time, people get stuck in a rut and think that to have fun, incredible gestures or big trips are needed. However, 22 provides the lesson within Soul that is the total opposite of that. She showcases great excitement at getting a lollipop or the gentle breeze.
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These are the types of things most people will take for granted, but seeing it all and reliving it all through 22's eyes is a really exciting part of the movie, which makes her such a fun character to watch.
Joe: Never Giving Up On A Dream
One of the most compelling personality traits that Joe has is his inability to give up on his dream of being a great jazz pianist. No matter how many knockbacks he gets or how many times people tell him to stop, Joe continues to believe, even after he technically dies.
It's something that should inspire a lot of viewers of this movie, and it is a trait that makes him very exciting to watch as a character. The fact he simply won't give up gives audiences something to root for when it comes to Joe, which 22 lacks for most of the story, due to her hating the idea of becoming a person.
22: She's Funnier
While the movie isn't a full-on comedy, Pixar is well-known for bringing fun elements into its movies to make people laugh, and 22 absolutely delivers in that regard. Joe does bring some funny moments to the movie, but the dry wit and sarcasm of 22 make her a hilarious character.
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Whether she's a soul or trapped in Joe's body on Earth, 22 always brings great comments that have audiences laughing throughout. It's something that really helps the movie in general, giving it great energy as the comedy provides sparks of fun to break up some of the more serious and emotional moments.
Joe: He's More Caring
22 certainly does begin to show a softer side to herself throughout the movie as she learns more about humans and Joe in general. The fact she's willing to help him in the first place is a great moment for her, but out of the two, it is Joe who is the kindest and most caring character.
This instantly makes him a great character, because he clearly thinks of others before himself. His big sacrifice at the end of the movie showcases everything people need to know about Joe as a character, which is why he's such a brilliant lead character.
22: Her Growth Is More Compelling
Both 22 and Joe grow as personalities and individuals throughout the movie, but 22's changes are a lot more exciting and compelling. Joe certainly learns to broaden his horizons throughout the movie, but 22 goes from being incredibly stubborn and unwilling to listen or be open to change, all the way to being compassionate and full of energy about life on Earth.
The changes in her personality are incredible to see, and the journey she goes on over the course of Soul actually ends up being the most interesting part of the movie, which is what makes her the better character out of the two.
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