‘Elio’ Review: Pixar Shoots for the Stars for a Cinematic and Heartfelt Journey [A-]

It’s easy to be cynical about Pixar. After establishing themselves as an animation powerhouse right out the gate with Toy Story, followed by their incredible run in the early part of the century (Toy Story 2, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up, Toy Story 3…wow!), the past 15 years or so have been rocky. Sure they’ve had some critical successes and picked up an Oscar here and there (Inside Out and Coco stand out as some of their best), but for the most part, the studio that was once a pioneer in the field of computer animation has been bogged down by limp sequels and films that feel like they’re trying too hard to inorganically elicit the kinds of emotional reactions for which they became known. As such, the arrival of a new Pixar film no longer feels like a major cinematic event…except for theater managers, Elio is their latest and, astoundingly, it’s one of Pixar’s best. Original, hilarious, and emotionally impactful, Elio shoots for the moon and even though it may not hit the heights of the animation house’s most acclaimed classics, as the astronomically-incorrect saying goes, it still lands among the stars.

The titular character is an 11-year-old boy with a maniacal obsession with outer space. His fascination was sparked by a formative visit to a museum exhibit all about the Voyager spacecraft and its famous Golden Record. Having recently lost both of his parents, the idea that there are countless worlds with endless possibilities right above his head resonates with young Elio. To him, outer space represents not only limitless potential but also an escape from his fractured life on Earth. Despite the love and attention of his well-meaning but preoccupied aunt Olga, Elio spends most of his time on the beach trying to get the attention of aliens via CB radio and comically desperate pleas written in the sand. One day, while accompanying his aunt to her job at a local Air Force base, Elio overhears a discussion that reveals the existence of aliens. Not only are they real, but they’ve intercepted Voyager’s Golden Record and are attempting to communicate with us. Elio himself manages to get the attention of the extraterrestrials and before he knows it, he’s whisked away to an interplanetary hub called the Communiverse where he stumbles into unplanned responsibility with multi-universal stakes.

If that sounds like a lot, fear not. Once Elio blasts off to another dimension, the screenplay keeps things blessedly straightforward. Unlike other Pixar films with convoluted or nonsensical rules for their fictional worlds (I’m looking at you Elemental, and don’t even get me started on the Cars universe), Elio uses simple storytelling and world-building methods to expand its internal universe. Sometimes it almost feels too straightforward, as with the film’s neat-and-tidy conclusion. But even with an uncomplicated screenplay, creativity hasn’t been sacrificed. While it definitely plays upon the audience’s knowledge of cinematic standards and practices of outer space stories, there’s plenty of ingenuity here. The designs of the alien characters are impressively imaginative, resembling deep sea creatures, stone formations, and other unexpected sources of inspiration. One of the film’s most exciting moments comes when the audience takes a tour with Elio through the Communiverse, being introduced to creatures and technologies in a thrilling, hilarious montage sequence (an exasperated talking Universal User’s Manual is particularly funny). And although Elio has traveled to a distant galaxy, he nevertheless finds himself in the middle of a conflict that far too closely resembles Earthly power struggles and miscommunications.

In a departure from typical Hollywood practices, Elio’s voice cast isn’t stuffed full of movie stars. Sure, Brad Garrett and recent Oscar-winner Zoe Saldaña are on hand; Garrett effortlessly brings the villainous warlord Grigon to life and Saldaña plays up the relatable exasperation of Elio’s aunt Olga. But the film’s standout performances come from two young actors. Yonas Kibreab voices Elio himself, giving him a spunky, endearing energy. And Remy Edgerly provides the voice of Glordon, Lord Grigon’s humorously guileless son. Edgerly is so effortlessly funny, it’s hard to believe this is his first time voicing a main character in a major motion picture.

Despite featuring three (count ‘em, three!) credited directors – Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina – Elio is focused in its mission of being equally funny and moving. Shi directed and co-wrote Turning Red, one of Pixar’s better and more emotionally-impressive recent efforts, and her influence is specifically felt in Elio’s honestly familial story. And the film’s comic sensibilities are finely tuned. There’s plenty of material to be mined from the humorous interactions between Elio and his newfound galactic friends and foes, but the film also wisely uses the agile abilities of animation for laughs. One sequence of Elio flying a spaceship is hysterical, and repeated bits involving a gooey alien clone work every time they’re deployed. Impressively, the directors even find ways to effectively use cinematography and editing tricks usually reserved for live action films, like focus shifting and step printing. Rob Simonsen’s sweeping musical score also helps elevate the film above lesser animated efforts.

The farther Elio gets from his home planet, the more he comes to realize that his troubles and struggles are far from singular. For those who’ve gone through personal difficulties or tragedies, it can often feel as if you’re the only one suffering the pains that come with such hardships. But it’s practically impossible to experience an emotion that’s totally new, even if the situational details are unique. It’s a helpful lesson to learn that no one is alone in feeling a certain way. The film’s repeated question of “Are we alone?” is answered, both literally and metaphorically, by Elio’s voyage. We certainly don’t have to travel as far as the main character to discover this – Elio delivers its inspiring message straight to the hearts of audiences at warp speed.

Grade: A-

Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation will release Elio in theaters on June 20.