Joe Gardner has spent his life chasing one dream: to be recognised as a great jazz musician. Stuck teaching music at a middle school, Joe feels trapped, viewing his job as a compromise rather than a calling. When he finally lands a chance to perform with renowned saxophonist Dorothea Williams, it feels like the universe has finally aligned in his favour.
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In a cruel twist of fate, Joe dies moments later and finds himself on a conveyor belt headed to the Great Beyond. Refusing to accept this end, he escapes and ends up in the Great Before, a dazzling metaphysical realm where souls are shaped before being sent to Earth. Here, Joe becomes a reluctant mentor to Soul 22, a sarcastic and disillusioned soul who has rejected life after centuries of failed inspiration.
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As Joe and 22 journey together, their perspectives clash. Joe believes purpose is tied to achievement, while 22 fears that life holds no meaning at all. When they accidentally return to Earth in the wrong bodies, Joe is forced to experience life in a slower, more grounded way. Meanwhile, 22 begins to find joy in simple experiences, food, music, and conversation, discovering that meaning can exist without grand ambition.
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When Joe finally achieves his long-awaited musical breakthrough, it leaves him unexpectedly empty. This realisation leads to a profound understanding: life is not about reaching a single moment of greatness, but about appreciating the accumulation of small, everyday experiences. The film concludes with Joe choosing to live fully, without obsession, and 22 bravely stepping into life on Earth, ready to discover her own meaning.
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Director: Pete Docter
Cast (voices): Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton
Runtime: 100 minutes
YouTube Trailer.
