Pixar and Disney Animation Studios’ latest film, Elio, brings heart, grief, and a journey of self-discovery to the screen. On the surface, the film tells the story of a little boy with dreams of running away to space. At first, you may think it’s a childhood dream, but in reality, he’s trying to run away from Earth to escape his grief from losing his parents.

You read that correctly. In classic Pixar fashion, the film leans into the familiar “dead parents” trope, which is a narrative device the studio often revisits. While it’s become a bit predictable, here it serves a meaningful purpose, quickly grounding Elio’s space dreams. It transforms him from a quirky kid with out-of-this-world dreams into a grieving child audiences can immediately root for and empathize with.

Bringing Elio’s journey to life is a stellar voice cast, including Academy Award winner Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett, America Ferrera, and Jameela Jamil. Their performances infuse the film with heart, humor, and a ton of fantastical characters that make the adventure all the more captivating.

Visually, Elio is breathtaking. The scenes set in the Communiverse, a kind of interstellar Space UN, are particularly stunning. The rich, colorful world evokes the underwater beauty of The Abyss. It’s filled with alien species that seem inspired by the ocean’s strangest and most beautiful creatures, like flat sea worms, sea angels, sea cucumbers, and hermit crabs.

While the film excels in emotional depth and visual splendor, the pacing does drag at times. Certain story beats feel unnecessarily drawn out, making parts of Elio’s journey feel a bit sluggish. A tighter, more focused narrative could have made the adventure even more impactful. Still, despite its occasional slow moments, Elio offers a charming, heartfelt ride worth taking.

Make sure to check out Elio on Friday, June 20th, in theaters!

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