ELIO – A Fantastic, Out-of-This-World Adventure for the Whole Family!

ELIO is directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina. The film features the voice talents of Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Remy Edgerly, Brandon Moon, Brad Garrett, and Jameela Jamil.

Elio was orphaned at a young age, sent to live with his aunt who works in a military facility monitoring outer space activity. After encountering a museum exhibit regarding the Voyager probe’s mission, he wants nothing more than for aliens to abduct him and take him on an adventure away from a world that doesn’t understand him. Before long, he gets his wish, but finds himself in the middle of an intergalactic conflict between a peaceful group of geniuses from many worlds, and a warmonger seeking revenge for his rejection. Will Elio be able to resolve the conflict and gain the confidence of his newfound friends in space?

It’s hard to believe it’s been three decades since Pixar entered the world of feature filmmaking with TOY STORY. In that time, the studio has continually challenged expectations and given the world some of the most memorable animated tales of all time. While not every single movie has been a masterpiece, Pixar is one of the few studios that knows how to create stories that are bright, colorful, and amusing enough for the little ones, but with enough depth and thought-provoking material that parents love them just as much as their kids. As a throwback to retro science fiction and a celebration of the weirdness that defines each and every one of us, ELIO is another modern masterpiece from Pixar, giving audiences young and old alike another fantastic tale as only they could do.

As a kid, were you ever the person who was cast out and rejected as weird? If so, the title character from ELIO will be instantly relatable. This young man, voiced excellently by Yonas Kibreab, beautifully encapsulates these qualities. You want to see this boy go on adventures and succeed in his goals. Creating a likable protagonist is a make-or-break situation in any film, and in ELIO’s title character, the good people at Pixar have done it again. The cast also includes Zoe Saldana as his adoptive aunt, and Brad Garrett as an alien warlord. It’s some of the best voice acting in a Pixar film to date.

A movie that involves aliens and extraterrestrial settings needs to be beautifully animated and eye-catching for young and old alike, and once again, Pixar hits it out of the park with ELIO. From the title character’s hometown to military facilities, and of course, to the stars and beyond, the movie pops off the screen. While 3D animation has largely become mainstream these days and not the niche thing it was three decades ago, the good folks at Pixar remain masters of their trade. This is a movie you can’t take your eyes off of. The fact that these elements don’t come at the expense of depth or a powerful message about belonging is definitely a plus as well.

Shortcomings in ELIO are, fortunately, few in number. Certain characters and plot points feel a bit rushed and underdeveloped, but at the same time, the movie is just about the right length. For the most part, pacing is solid. I would liked to have seen more of certain characters/their relationships, but that’s the only minor criticism. The movie also features a brief mid-credits scene, as well as a post-credits bumper promoting a future Pixar production.

ELIO is an out-of-this-world adventure young and old alike are sure to enjoy. All these years later, this moviegoer is glad to see Pixar remains at the top of their game, and perhaps nowhere in recent memory has that been truer with ELIO, which gives audiences a great hero and fun heartwarming adventure. Highly recommended for all audiences.