Elio

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Pixar consistently does an excellent job of storytelling, and lately, they've been back on top in terms of the quality of their movies. 'Elio' is just the next chapter of Pixar's unstoppable success. I will say, right off the bat, that this is one I feel caters a bit more to the kids. While it has its share of depth, I didn't feel that emotional punch that has impacted me with past Pixar movies. With that, I think my closest comparison is 'Coco,' which did a great deal more for me in the long run.

But that's not to say that this is anything to turn your nose up at. 'Elio' does manage to still carry the heart of Pixar with things like an opening that might hit one in the feels (like 'Up'), but remains lighthearted and fun the whole way through, to the point where even the big baddie in the film isn't as scary as he is over the top silly. And, of course, like most Pixar movies, there's a healthy dose of "cute" to it, and it's another solid title that will have you leaving with a smile. However, it's far from the personal favourite that I thought it might be.

As the film opens, we learn that a young boy named Elio Solís (Yonas Kibreab) has been orphaned following the death of his parents. Here's where I take a moment to credit the writers for NOT detailing the parents' death (which is almost always a car accident). It allows the viewer to focus more on the outcome, as Elio is a very lonely boy, now forced to live with his aunt, Olga (Zoe Saldana), and an Air Force major who, to her credit, doesn't pursue a career as an astronaut so she can care for Elio. However, in turn, this causes Elio to consider himself a burden on her, and he has his share of insecurities.

One day, Elio stumbles upon an exhibit about Voyager 1 and its Golden Record, becoming wonderstruck by the idea of other life being out there in the cosmos and trying to make contact. He works on his alien contact project for a while, which is eventually ruined by a couple of kids, Bryce (Young Dylan) and his jerk friend, Caleb (Jake Getman), which, in turn, causes Elio to lose his temper, and a fight ensues. He finds himself under the closer watchful eye of his Aunt Olga, who brings him to work with her, which... I don't know what's possible in reality as an Air Force major, but what do I know?

Elio manages to sneak his way into an emergency meeting, overhears the possibility of an alien signal, and considers the idea that the airwaves may be open to sending another message and establishing some form of communication. It's dismissed, everyone leaves, but Elio stays behind to send a signal of his own, cause a power outage and nearly get Olga fired. He's then sent to a youth camp where, eventually, while dodging the same kids he fought with, Aliens find him, abduct him, and all of his dreams start coming true (hoping to be abducted and taken off this planet where he can begin anew). They even clone him to keep Olga fooled.

Things start just about as he imagined, with kindly alien creatures of unique designs who welcome him into their society with open arms. However, also trying to infiltrate this society is the hot-tempered Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), who poses a threat to the entire civilization. When Elio volunteers to become an ambassador to negotiate with Grigon, simply so he can stay, is when the real adventure begins, as Elio finds himself in over his head, but also befriending a young "Hylurgian" named Glordon (Remy Edgerly) as pictured above.

While the film has all the heart, charm, cuteness, and humour that Pixar typically offers, what it shines in is its unique look. Not just the worlds the alien creatures come from, but the creatures themselves, and not a single one of them is a typical "Grey" as we know them. It pops with colour and atmosphere, and manages to be a feast for the eyes. It just didn't hit me as hard emotionally as something like 'Soul' or 'Inside Out 2,' offering something lighter, like 'Luca' or 'Turning Red.' But it's nevertheless solid and worth checking out.

3/5

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