Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
(C) Disney
Friendship, admittedly, is a theme Pixar has explored many times. The same goes for being an outsider. In fact, some of their best work has come from these themes. Elio doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it still tells a story worth telling.
What perhaps sets it apart from other Pixar films is its focus on the feeling of being alone. Here, the film embraces that solitude to help us better understand its lead characters. Loneliness and isolation are issues that feel increasingly relevant, and the movie addresses the complications they bring without becoming too heavy or difficult to watch. There's this warm feeling that keeps you going.
Sure, it juggles a lot. Some characters could have used more development, which may be the result of changes during production. Still, by the end, the film never loses sight of what it’s ultimately trying to say.
The animation remains top-notch, as we've come to expect from Pixar. The night scenes are especially stunning, and the Communiverse is yet another inventive, idea-rich world created by the studio. This is a far stronger sci-fi effort than Lightyear.
It's true that Elio could've aimed higher. For something even bigger. However, what they ended up with is enough. Enough because the film matters. Enough because it's still damn good. 3.5/5 ⭐
Disney and Pixar's Elio is now playing in PH cinemas.
