Pixar’s latest under the Disney mantle, Elio is a thoroughly enjoyable ode to belonging and finding your way through life in the face of adversity, but ducks a few harder questions amidst some broader comedy. Elio, a recently orphaned boy, has been sent to live with his aunt Olga, who also happens to be part of the space industry, studying the stars and preventing crashes in orbit between satellites. In a moving opening sequence, we see Elio discovering the mission of the Voyager spacecraft, that plays a record to the cosmos as it floats through it, expounding Earth and its humanity.
Elio bonds with this thought: alone in the universe, he craves an escape into galaxies far away from his own trauma, and longs to be abducted by aliens. Utilising primitive ham radio technology, his wish is finally granted – whereupon he finds himself Earth’s ambassador, part of the Communiverse, a diverse group of alien races dedicated to working together in harmony. Their fate is threatened by a warlike race, headed by weapon-wielding Lord Grigon, but Elio befriends Grigon’s son Glordon – a cute, toothy larvae-like alien – and discovers that he can indeed make friends. Maybe Earth life isn’t too bad after all…
Beautifully animated, as you’d expect, with some gorgeous, epic moments, this space-set tale is also intimate – one boy’s journey to accepting his lot. Voiced by Yonas Kibreab, Elio is likeable, and the film charts his emotional journey well. It’s the broader comedy moments, particularly involving ham radio enthusiast Melmac, that stick out, at odds with the tone of the film, though, thrown in for obvious comedy.
Larval alien Glordon is a cute comic foil, also struggling with parental issues and expectations, his and Elio’s relationship the most believable in the film. There’s also fun to be had with clones, as well as some disturbing melty moments. Solid family fare with heart, Elio may not be top-tier Pixar, but has some emotional depth amidst the mayhem.
Dirs: Adrian Molina/Madeline Sharafian/Domee Shi (PG, 99 mins)
In cinemas from Fri 20 June
words KEIRON SELF
