Review of the Disney summer film Elio

Not much being new on the silver screen, it’s not what you do, but how you do it. An innovative approach to view the celestial cosmos puts a spin on this uplifting tale for family audiences this summer. Reeling from the tragic loss of his parents, Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab, Sweet Tooth) feels painfully alone, desperate for comfort and a place to belong. His aunt Olga (Oscar-winner Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Perez) tries her best to fit the caretaker mold, putting her astronaut aspirations on hold, yet she too feels alone, lost with how to raise a child. But as a Major stationed on an Air Force base, her nephew exercises his imagination, entertaining his fascination with outer space and CB radios. 

Attempting to make friends who share his interest of what exists in the great beyond, his plans sadly backfire, leading to frictional confrontation with some fellow boys. Stressed and alarmed, Olga’s patience wears thin while Elio’s hopeful wonder blinds him of his errors. It’s no surprise the visuals captivate. Pixar-picked vets Madeline Sharafian (Burrow), Oscar-winner Domee Shi (Bao) and Adrian Molina (Coco) share directorial duties, right at home on a road they’ve all driven before. And a Talking Heads song in the beginning? You got me so far. Warm characters voiced by an earnest cast, heartfelt themes line an enchanting panorama, setting up Disney to do what it has done before. 

A steady plot avoids unnecessary filler

Tapping into a satellite signal with a dash of will power, the little Elio engine that could makes contact with Extraterrestrials and lands just where he wished to be. Much to his delight, he is greeted by the members of The Communiverse, a collective of the galaxy’s respective leaders. Ambassadors Questa (Jameela Jamil), Helix (Brandon Moon), and the large contingent welcome Elio as Earth’s delegate. Just as The Communiverse lays out its’ bed of roses, the fresh sense of relief is interrupted by the imposing Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett) and his relentlessly abrasive desire to be accepted to the group. Rejected, he vows crushing retribution on the whole lot.

The Communiverse boasts attributes of “tolerance” and “open-mindedness”, denying Lord Grigon based on that scale, but in fact are practicing the opposite of those qualities. Intimidated by a rough-around- the-edges demeanor, they close the door on understanding, excluding the chance for improvement or growth. Everybody yearns for acceptance, revealing similarities in both Elio and Grigon’s temperament. Disney has postured itself as a virtuous brand, some critics feeling that precedes producing quality. Waxing poetic-Pixar may be a little ponderous. It is a kid’s movie after all, but the intergalactic warlord just wanted to belong and was snubbed by snobbery.

Foolishly brave, Elio naturally ends up striving to diffuse the ticking time-bomb bully Grigon and making a surprising new friend in the process. Purpose, clarity, and love align aunt and nephew on the same page, and alongside outer space’s ambassadors, they take action to protect The Communiverse. The refreshing layer of the picture is how the filmmakers sculpt their presentation of the universe, unique to previous renditions. Heartwarming themes lead the narrative without overstuffing the duration, the animation dazzles, and everyone gets what they want. This is Disney after all.