by Nick Ferro, Contributing Writer
It’s the third week of June so you know what that means! PIXAR WEEK!! For 14 out of the last 16 years, we have been graced with some of the best non-car-based animated films of all time on this week in June. I always look forward to Pixar’s movies, because for the most part, I know I am going to get a four-quadrant movie my kids will love and I will enjoy — and tears will be shed by all! Pixar has a way of finding that emotional button inside us, that when pressed we become a blubbering mess. They are by far the most consistent animation studio because their stories are timeless and try to connect with an audience better than most animated movies. Some have been down on a few of their more recent entries; however with the exception of Lightyear, I personally feel that they have been on a hot streak. Whether it’s the most stunning visuals of Elemental, touching pro-LGBTQ+ story of belonging from Luca, or the emotionally charged music of Soul, there has been something to love about each of Pixar’s most recent entries. The movie that my family connected with the most in recent years was Turning Red. Between being a dad of two preteen girls and husband to a woman who grew up in the boy band era of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, there was something for all of us. So when I heard that Turning Red’s director Domee Shi and story director Madeline Sharafin had story credits for the newest Pixar film Elio, I was already sold. It also didn’t hurt that Adrian Molina, one of the writers of Coco (my second favorite Pixar movie), was directing.
Elio is the story of a young boy named… Elio (Yonas Kibreab)… huh, that’s a fun coincidence! After the death of his parents, he goes to live with his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña), who works on a military base tasked with monitoring space and satellites. After a trip to the base’s aerospace museum, Elio becomes infatuated with all things extraterrestrial. And who can blame him? Because when he presses the button to learn about NASA’s 1977 Voyager probe and the display is narrated by none other than Captain Janeway herself, Kate Mulgrew, I practically jumped out of my seat with excitement! This was the best surprise voice cameo since Finding Dory’s, “Hi, I’m Sigourney Weaver.” Elio being canonical Trek aside, the story then kicks off with him trying to get himself abducted by aliens, because as Carl Sagan explains, he doesn’t want to feel so alone. But don’t worry, although Pixar is known for making you cry, it is also great at making you laugh, and Elio doesn’t disappoint. The ensuing adventure is chock-full of funny moments and jokes that are both signature Pixar, as well as non-quip, Marvel style jokes. It uses situational humor a lot, and if I had to guess, it should have great replay value once the kids can watch it on repeat at home.
As we were leaving the theater, my kids (who loved the movie) couldn’t help but start comparing Elio to Lilo and Stitch (2002). At first I laughed it off, because the comparison felt surface level at best, but then I started to compare them myself. A young child loses both parents and is left to be raised by a family member old enough to do so, but young enough to be unprepared to be a parent. Both are clearly suffering the loss, and their lives are made crazy when this child comes into contact with aliens who, through the adventure, teach the main characters about power of friendship, the importance of family, and how even though you might think you’re alone, there is always someone who can help make your world feel bigger than it seems. I mean, if that’s not the bones of Lilo and Stitch, I don’t know what is! But when I really think about the movies in more detail, they really don’t resemble each other much past that surface level observation. In fact, I would classify them as sibling films, and a great double feature! Hey, maybe someday there will be a live action version of Elio, and it can change it so his aunt doesn’t want him back, and he can stay with the aliens forever or in foster care!
Elio and Lilo may tell a similar story, but they do so in such unique ways. Elio is a very different kid from Lilo right off the bat. He is established very early on to be very driven and focused on a singular goal. Elio wants to live in any other world but his, but not in the same way that Lilo dissociates. Both are lonely, but each movie tackles loneliness from a different perspective. Elio takes a much more direct approach to his adventure, he gets in over his head very quickly, and, as any kid would, lies to an entire galactic community about being the leader of “Uh-Earth.” Another way Elio differs from Lilo is the friendship between Elio and Glordon (Remy Edgerly), as opposed to Lilo and Stitch. One is adversarial at first and grows because of Stitch’s ability to learn and grow. That movie is about the characters’ friendship. Whereas Elio and Glordon are just two lonely, weird kids in need of a friend. Elio isn’t so much about their friendship, but how their friendship expands their own understanding of the world around them, and gives them the confidence to take risks. Plus, their becoming-friends montage is just downright adorable! Typically, a montage of people becoming friends is a cheap way to show growth without wasting time, but for some reason this movie’s montage has me believing in their friendship.
But a movie is only as good as it’s villain, right? Step to the side, generational trauma! It’s time to let a good old fashioned big, scary alien in a mech suit full o’ weapons take the wheel for a couple acts! Lord Grigon, voiced by Pixar Legend Brad Garrett, is a great addition to the movie, because he is the perfect act two foil for Elio, while also being a great act three surprise. The idea that you can have a big, scary villain figure be there to intimidate, while still making him a character and not a trope, is why Pixar is the best in the business when it comes to characters. Grigon could have easily been a throwaway dope of a character, but this movie doesn’t take any short cuts. In fact, each of the main characters throughout feel like real people who you can relate to in some way. Whether it be the kid who feels alone, the adult who is doing their best, the parent who is insecure, or the son who is afraid to disappoint his father.
While I am always impressed by Pixar’s animation, I do have to say that Elio’s is a bit too traditional, and circa 2000-2018, for my liking. I have really been impressed with animation in the last few years. Between theSpider-Verse films, Flow, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, or Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, there have been so many unique and beautifully rendered animated films to choose from. Elio, while still looking outstanding, leaves something to be desired, and feels more like a return to the same old tried and true style that I thought we were getting away from. With Turning Red, Luca, and Elemental coming out of Pixar’s unique animation lineup recently, it was disappointing to see them regress. However, what Elio lacks in visual flair, it more than makes up in creativity and world building. This world and all the alien life inside it, is fascinating to look at and think about. From the way their universal translator works to cloning tech, the movie tackles so many sci-fi tropes in new and fun ways. I also loved the design of many of the different aliens, and how unlike in Star Trek or Wars, the aliens are non-humanoid shaped creatures of all shapes, sizes, and compositions! For a moment, I was reminded of Scavengers Reign, if it was made for kids and wasn’t trying to make me throw up.
I really enjoyed Elio, my kids enjoyed Elio, the eight other 12-year-olds that I took to the movies with us enjoyed Elio! (Don’t ask.) I think it will be another win for Pixar — however, that’s a steep hill for them to climb. I don’t think Elio will ever crack my personal favorites, but I do think it could be someone’s favorite, and that’s why Pixar is so amazing! There are now 29 feature-length Pixar films, and if I asked 29 people what their favorite one is, I wouldn’t be surprised to get 28 different answers (because no one is picking Cars 2).
Okay, bye. I love you!
Rating: Liked It
Elio is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Nick Ferro, and follow him on Letterboxd