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| Photos courtesy of Disney |
Disney-Pixar’s latest animated film is, essentially, a story about needing to feel wanted and as though one belongs. It is a spirited tale that speaks to the parts of us that are different, that desire a place in the world in spite of – or perhaps because of – our uniqueness.
Recently orphaned, young Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) has been trying to find his place among his peers and especially as part of a new family with his aunt Olga (Zoe Saldana), but continually comes up short. He acts out and doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere – so he begins to obsess about being abducted by aliens, since he feels so alien himself. Responding to a message from the stars, Elio finds himself beamed to the Communiverse, a beautifully-animated, colorful galaxy whose denizens value wisdom and peace. But even here, Elio does not quite belong; he must earn his place among the stars. Along the way, he befriends a tardigrade-like being called Glordon(Remy Edgerly), himself a misfit in his warlike people’s world, who threaten the Communiverse.
Recently orphaned, young Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) has been trying to find his place among his peers and especially as part of a new family with his aunt Olga (Zoe Saldana), but continually comes up short. He acts out and doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere – so he begins to obsess about being abducted by aliens, since he feels so alien himself. Responding to a message from the stars, Elio finds himself beamed to the Communiverse, a beautifully-animated, colorful galaxy whose denizens value wisdom and peace. But even here, Elio does not quite belong; he must earn his place among the stars. Along the way, he befriends a tardigrade-like being called Glordon(Remy Edgerly), himself a misfit in his warlike people’s world, who threaten the Communiverse.
It is tough to say whether Elio achieves its goals, as it is difficult to tell just whom this story is for. It’s only clear that the message is about belonging when one’s “weirdness” gets in the way. But as a protagonist, Elio’s journey is somewhat confusing, and he can be hard to care for or sympathize with because we don’t really get to know who he is before the narrative removes him to a more interesting setting.
We don’t really get a sense of his grief, or how rough it’s been for him getting used to his aunt’s guardianship, before those things are replaced in the story by galactic heroism. The emotional beats just don’t hit the way they could, which is disappointing because Elio is a fantastically lovely film, animated with amazing lights and colors to bring the universe alive.
At its core, the film is really just a simple story about a kid who doesn’t feel as though he fits in anywhere, and longs to leave Earth for adventures beyond the planet’s atmosphere. It tries to bring home the idea that “unique is not alone”, but even this sentiment seems to hit hollowly. Younger children will love the animation and the adventure, but older viewers may find themselves bored or searching for a heart that really just isn’t there.
For a summer movie, Elio is charming enough for families, but ultimately it is little more than that. Pixar is known for its deeply emotional storytelling, but that isn’t really present here. The film could have worked beautifully as a streaming series, especially if that format would focus more on the amazing alien beings that aren’t given enough to do in the theatrical release. The designs and personalities of these characters are far more interesting than the hero, and it’s a shame we don’t get more of their stories, as the Communiverse in particular is an intriguing setting that we don’t get to explore at length.
—Dana Culling