MOVIE REVIEW: ELIO

 

Elio, an underdog with an active imagination, finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth's ambassador to the rest of the universe, he starts to form new bonds with eccentric aliens while discovering who he's truly meant to be.

Director: Adrian Molina, Domee Shi, Madeline Sharafian

Cast: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brandon Moon, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil

Release Date: June 20, 2025

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Rated PG for some action/peril and thematic elements.

Runtime: 1h 39m

Review:

Elio, Pixar's latest animated feature, brings a breath of fresh air with is original story and colorful characters while still managing to center itself around an emotional core.  The trio of directors, Adrian Molina, Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian, deliver a lively sci-fi tale that's fun and easy to enjoy.  The character designs are inventive and wonderfully crafted especially once the action moves into the Communiverse.  They manage to keep a steady pace with the action which keeps the plot moving, something that both parents and children alike will appreciate.  It gives the film a nice flow that rarely lets up as we follow Elio's journey as he progressively gets more and more in over his head.  It helps that the central character is likeable from the onset even as he tries to deal with the loss of his parents and find his place in the world.  Yonas Kibreab voices the character with impressive enthusiasm layered with tinges of sadness that's some depth to the character.  He and Zoe Saldaña share a believe rapport together as she navigates the best way to deal with her nephew who she's left to care for.  Saldaña does a solid job of balancing her character's conflicted situation where she wants to do the best she can for Elio but is equally overwhelmed with the responsibility thrust on her which stalled her career.  There's a fair amount of subtle nuance to it that's easy to miss among the cornucopia of visuals thrown on screen, but it adds so much to the overall story especially in the back half of the film.  Brad Garrett and Remy Edgerly bring a similar sort of energy to Lord Grigon and his son Glordon.  Garrett's deep baritone voice works well for his seemingly aggressive character while Edgerly provides a solid contrast as his son who's not interested in his dad's work.  Edgerly and Kibreab make for a fun duo in the middle portion of the film with their friendship feeling believable as they're both looking for acceptance and attention from their guardians.  It all may not be as emotionally deep or devastating as some of Pixar's other films such as Coco or Inside Out, but Elio will leave you feeling good when you walk out of the theater.  

  

A-