Elio

Tonight, on Disney+, I saw the new Pixar movie, “Elio,” which came out theatrically in June but today on Disney+. How is this, seeing that this is new for Disney and not cashing in on something they did previously.

Marissa Hill started her review by admitting, “Elio, Pixar’s latest animated adventure, was an unexpected delight that soared beyond my initial expectations. As someone who’s seen animations swing from brilliant to forgettable, I approached this film with cautious optimism, expecting another hit-or-miss storyline. Yet, Elio not only met but surpassed my hopes, delivering a story I could watch repeatedly without losing its charm.” The film is about Elio Solis, a small boy who, after losing his parents, lives with his Aunt Olga, an Air Force major who wants to fly into space. Elio’s obsession with aliens takes him to a space misadventure when he's mistakenly taken on the Communiverse, an interplanetary hub where he’s thought as Earth’s ambassador. Hill described, “With its vibrant animation, reminiscent of a cosmic lava lamp, and heartfelt exploration of identity, belonging, and family, Elio captures the magic of childhood wonder in a way that resonates deeply.”

The story focuses on Elio, voiced by Yonas Kibreab, whose quirky personality and alien obsession make him immediately relatable. Living with his Aunt Olga, voiced by Zoe Saldaña, Elio struggles to fit in after his parents passed. Olga, who gave up her dreams of being an astronaut to raise him, has frustration with Elio, especially when he skips school to lie on the beach with a sign asking the aliens to take him. Hill said, “His passion for ham radios, a hobby I connected with from my own childhood, adds a unique layer to his character as he tries to contact extraterrestrial life. This personal touch made the film especially meaningful to me, evoking memories of tinkering with radios to explore the unknown.”

Elio’s struggles are heightened by bullying from other kids Bryce and Caleb, voiced by Dylan Gilmer and Jake Getman, who mess with his ham radio, injuring his eye and forcing him to wear an eye patch for two weeks. At Olga’s base, Elio sneaks into a meeting where Gunther Melmac, voiced by Brendan Hunt, gives evidence of alien responses to Voyager 1. Elio’s use of Melmac’s device to send a message causes a power outage, nearly getting Olga fired. Sent to a youth camp with Bryce and Caleb, Elio gets bullied more, causing him to run away, where he gets abducted by an alien space and taken to the Communiverse, a colorful interplanetary hub.

In the Communiverse, Elio is mistaken for Earth’s ambassador and must navigate a crisis with warlord Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), whose son Glordon (Remy Edgerly) becomes Elio’s friend. After being imprisoned, Elio uses Glordon as leverage, leading to the creation of a clone to represent Earth. Back on Earth, Olga thinks Elio is a clone, and through a sequence of stuff, Elio and Olga make up, ending with Glordon being saved and resolving the issue with Lord Grigon, Elio learns he’s never alone, helped by Ambassador Questa’s (Jameela Jamil) guidance, and the quirky supercomputer OOOOO (Shirley Henderson).

The voice vast helps the film’s quality. Yonas Kibreab brings Elio to life with innocence and curiosity, perfectly getting his journey. Zoe Saldaña as Aunt Olga gives a strong, caring aura, capturing the emotional character. Remy Edgerly as Glordon adds a special alien likability, while Brad Garrett’s evil yet layered Lord Grigon adds depth to the conflict. Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa helps Elio with authority and kindness, and Shirley Henderson as OOOOO gives humor and heart in this space adventure. Ana de la Reguera as Turais, another alien ambassador, adds to the Communiverse’s diversity.

Hill credited, “I love the coloring scheme of this animation; it reminds me of my favorite colors in a lava lamp. The storyline is simple and sweet, which was nice. I feel like a lot of recent animations try to cater and pander to a certain audience, and this one did not feel that way, which was refreshing.” It has simple looks of culture, with Elio being Hispanic, clear with the details like him referring to his aunt as “Tia” and cultural food references.

In the end, “Elio” is a lovable animated film with simple yet sweet storyline that doesn’t feel like it’s targeting to a specific audience. Hill ended her review by saying, “Its subtle cultural references and vibrant animation make it a delightful watch, and the inclusion of ham radios struck a personal chord, evoking my own childhood fascination with the unknown. I can see myself returning to this cosmic delight again and again, as it offers a heartwarming exploration of identity, belonging, and the importance of family and friendship that resonates with both children and adults.”

This is not a completely innovative movie, as it does borrow some storylines that you can predict, but compared to the other stuff that Disney has put out this year, this is enjoyable. There are some references to other sci-fi properties out there that people could point out. It’s not one of the best movies Pixar has put out, but it’s still a good one to see and I think everyone will enjoy this, especially those who are fascinated with space. After “Coco,” this is the other Pixar movie to be about a Hispanic family, but it is not about the language or any of the culture, but then again, that was not the main focus. Check it out on Disney+ because I think everyone will enjoy this a lot.

Thank you for joining in on this review tonight. Stay tuned this Friday for the continuation of “Happy Madison Month.”