With Elio, Pixar is struggling to reach the stars (critic)
After the huge success of Vice Versa 2, the Disney-Pixar studios embarked on a new interstellar story that lacks originality and magic.
Are we alone in the universe? And, meetings of the third type, or Contactmany films have treated friendly relationships between humans and small beings from elsewhere. It is in this heritage that Racine takes Eliothe new animated film signed Pixar, imagined by Adrian Molina, the American-Mexican director of Coco who was inspired by his childhood for writing the script, before leaving the directors Domee Shi (Red alert) and Madeline Sharafian (Mon Terrier).
His hero, Elio Solís, a young orphan boy passionate about space, spends his time in the stars, dreaming of being removed by aliens. On Earth, he finds it difficult to find his place and feels alone, even with his aunt Olga Solís who sails between his work in the Air Force and his new role with his nephew. And then, one day, Elio sees his wish and finds himself propelled into the Communiversea splendid planet where the various galactic ambassadors live in communion. Being taken for the representative of the earth, he is entrusted with an interstellar mission during which he became friends with Glord, an affectionate little alien.
Although waiting for this story, this story leaves a strong impression of already seen. In addition to the references cited above, so impossible not to think of Lilo and Stitchof which Disney recently released a version in live-action. The resemblance is disturbing: a child a little apart, victim of harassment by young people of his age, who becomes a friend with a being of another galaxy. Like little Lilo, Elio lost her parents and finds herself in the care of a family female figure, also upset by this change and the new responsibilities that this implies. Without forgetting the kinship between the scene where the formidable Lord Grigon is denied the Communivese and the opening of the Hawaiian Disney where Stitch is banished from the planet Turo.
The accumulation of these similarities, ends up playing against Elio. And largely explains why, while Pixar is recognized to place the emotion at the heart of its stories, it is unfortunately struggling to be embarked on this adventure and to feel the wonder of Elio. And this despite the beauty of animation where the dull colors of the terrestrial military base contrast wonderfully with this flamboyant planet populated by a fantastic bestiary. But weighed down by the inability to make a real originality heard on the themes of the recomposed family, of friendship and the difference, the Pixar (and Disney) formula seems definitely going more and more in circles.
By Adrian Molina, Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian. Duration: 1h39. Released June 18, 2025
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