Elio

by Tyler Glover

Photo: Disney/Pixar

Director: Adrian Molina, Domee Shi & Madeline Sharafian 
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana & Remy Edgerly
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hour & 38 minutes

 
When Pixar first made its debut with 1995’s “Toy Story,” it was evident that the studio knew how to sell an animated feature that appealed equally to children, their parents and their grandparents. Pixar had a winning formula of telling relatable stories with interesting and complex characters, beautiful and visually stunning animation, stories that touched us and made us think about what it means to be human. The first 11 films from the studio spanning from 1995 to 2010’s “Toy Story 3” were perfect films. It appeared that Pixar could do nothing wrong.
​
Their first misfire was 2011’s “Cars 2.” It just prioritized gimmicks and relating to action heist films and lost its overall heart. Pixar still mostly has produced high-quality entertainment over the years, but for every “Inside Out,” there is also a “Lightyear.” When reviewing Pixar films, it is almost impossible not to think about the high standards they set when they first began releasing films. It makes every release have so much more to prove than features from other studios.

Pixar’s most recent film, “Elio,” tells the story of Elio, a young boy who dreams of being abducted by aliens and going to space. Elio’s parents have died, and he is now in the care of his Aunt Olga, who is an Air Force major who gave up her dreams of being an astronaut to raise Elio. Eventually, Elio gets his wish and meets aliens. They mistakenly believe he is the leader of Earth and want him to join the Communiverse, but he must prove himself. He eventually befriends an alien named Glordon. He must bring peace to the universe to be accepted. Will he get to stay with the aliens, or will his dreams remain unfulfilled?

So, is “Elio” a triumph like “Inside Out” or a clunker like “Lightyear?” The answer is that it is neither. The issue that really keeps it from being an “Inside Out” is that “Elio” truly is a beautiful film visually, and Pixar’s ability to transport us to new worlds is on full display. The biggest issue is that Elio’s home life is not thoroughly explored enough for the film to achieve the emotional payoff it hoped for. The relationship between Elio and his Aunt Olga appears to be so chaotic and free of genuine affection for each other. The contrast here would be Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch.” While Lilo and her sister Nani are contentious with each other, the script still gives us moments where we see that they do love each other underneath it all. Without showing us some of the love Elio and Olga have for each other, the audience does not feel as invested in the outcome of that relationship.

Besides this major issue, the film does manage to deliver a visually stunning epic adventure. Pixar truly succeeds in transporting us to this new world that is exciting to live in for an hour and a half. When Elio is with the aliens, we genuinely feel joy for him as he gets to live out his dream. It prompts us to consider what it would be like to live our dreams. How exciting is that? The film makes none of us want to return to Earth. Pixar truly succeeds in this. While the story is not original by any means, it still manages to be a truly entertaining one of good overcoming evil and people re-examining their belief system. We truly are challenged to think: why not? Why can’t we live our dreams? What is truly stopping us? In that aspect, it truly delivers the magic of a Disney-Pixar film.

While “Elio” is not a call-back to the near-perfect films in Pixar’s history, it delivers a visual spectacle that takes us to a new place full of possibilities and invites us all to continue dreaming.