Movie Review: An intergalactic, existential journey about loneliness in Pixars Elio

Jun 18, 2025 01:36 AM IST Movie Review: An intergalactic, existential journey about loneliness in Pixar’s ‘Elio’ Elio is a lonely 11-year-old simply searching for huge solutions about life. Movie Review: An intergalactic, existential journey about loneliness in Pixar’s ‘Elio’ He’s lately misplaced his mother and father, the one individuals who understood him and needed him, and the one factor that appears to present him consolation and hope is the concept we’re not alone within the universe. So, in Pixar’s newest , he begins waging a marketing campaign for aliens to abduct him. Mostly, this entails laying down on the seashore and ready, his sand notes getting ever extra determined. Then in the future it really works. It’s a stable premise that, considered a method, has all of the makings of a basic Pixar movie. It’s existential however cute. It may make you cry and likewise wish to purchase a cuddly Glordon toy. Glordon is the toothy, slug-like younger alien with no eyes who befriends Elio . From a extra cynical vantage level, nonetheless, it additionally doesn’t stray removed from the formulation. It’s one other child realizing that the issues that make him totally different may simply be his secret energy performed out on a heightened, fantastical scale. It’s secure and acquainted, but additionally maybe getting somewhat drained. “Elio” may even be the movie that can have you ever wishing that Pixar would tone down the self-help periods. Dead mother and father and a child with a single tear operating down his face is a brutal approach to begin an intergalactic journey film for the entire household. We’ve cared about protagonists with far much less fast trauma. Elio and his aunt Olga are barely holding on after we meet them residing on a military base. She’s needed to abandon her goals of being an astronaut to be Elio’s main caregiver, and he’s a tough topic — consumed with grief that he can’t fairly verbalize and channeling all of his energies right into a quest to speak with extraterrestrials. Olga is making an attempt however overwhelmed and Elio seems like a burden. On prime of all of it, he can’t appear to remain out of hassle, whether or not it’s his personal making or in self-defense in opposition to a neighborhood bully. It’s no marvel he desires to flee for a world of infinite information, voice powered anti-gravity units and spectacular colours. But life within the cosmos isn’t any stroll within the park both. Elio will get instantly entangled in an internet of lies, wherein he convinces the clever aliens of the Communiverse that he’s the chief of Earth. Fake it till you make it, Pixar-style? He’s despatched to barter with Lord Grigon , a warmongering chief who desires to steer the Communiverse, and learns strategies like “start from a position of power” and to make use of a “bargaining chip.” Like most Pixar films, it’s constructing in the direction of a message of empathy. But for lengthy whereas it we’re additionally being taught one thing akin to the artwork of the deal. “Elio” is the work of many individuals — there are three credited administrators, Adrian Molina , who left the venture however retains the credit score, Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi , and three credited screenwriters concerned. And the story stretches in numerous totally different instructions, making the general expertise somewhat disjointed and strained. It’s most enjoyable when it lets its child characters be youngsters — Elio and his new pal Glordon have a ball simply taking part in round within the Communiverse. But the movie simply takes so lengthy to get there. Dazzling visuals will solely get you thus far. And these aren’t with out their pleasures and irreverent homages to movie tropes in numerous genres. One of the extra questionably intense sequences entails a little bit of clone physique horror, however maybe that’s an grownup projecting a horror factor onto one thing {that a} child may simply discover humorous. There’s a pleasant overriding message about parental acceptance and unconditional love – there at all times is. But in taking part in it so secure and so acquainted, “Elio” is lacking a little bit of that Pixar marvel, and mischief. “Elio,” a Walt Disney Company launch in theaters Friday, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for “thematic elements, some action and peril.” Running time. 99 minutes. Two and a half stars out of 4. This article was generated from an automatic information company feed with out modifications to textual content. Stay related with all of the glitz and glam from the world of leisure, proper from Hollywood gossip to Bollywood chit chat. Also do not miss out on music buzz, anime scoops and OTT motion. Stay related with all of the glitz and glam from the world of leisure, proper from Hollywood gossip to Bollywood chit chat. Also do not miss out on music buzz, anime scoops and OTT motion. See Less