Disney/Pixar has not had a big winning movie in recent years. It has been a while since the label released an all-time outstanding film. While the studio could benefit from a win, it doesn’t help that the film’s promotion has been so limited. So, while Elio will not completely revitalize the Disney/Pixar name, it at least shows some promise for the future.
The problem with Elio, as with many Disney properties, is that much of its story feels borrowed from another Disney property that recently underwent a remake. The story I am talking about is Lilo & Stitch. Lilo & Stitch tells the story of a misunderstood child who is coping with the untimely loss of her parents and hopes for some significant changes in her life despite the hard work her foster parent does to maintain some semblance of normality. Elio uses a very similar premise.
Elio tells the story of a young boy who is fascinated with space and the potential for intelligent life in the cosmos. He is also dealing with the untimely death of his beloved parents and is now under the care of his overwhelmed aunt, Olga (Zoe Saldana). Elio eventually discovers a way to contact intelligent life in space and gets transported to another galaxy where the people need help in defusing a hostile threat.
While not all of the specifics are the same, the fact that Elio feels too familiar, especially since Lilo & Stitch recently got a “live-action” treatment, this strategy holds this movie back from being exceptional. To its benefit, though, is the fact that the animation and imagination that went into visualizing and creating the otherworldly universe and its creatures set it apart from other movies.
The use of humor also works very well, making this film very amusing and entertaining. I often found myself smiling and laughing at Elio’s discovery of this foreign world and treating the characters like humans like himself. The heart that went into this story manages to save this film despite its lack of complete originality. Elio is a crowd-pleasing movie that should entertain not only children but also their parents.
With a great voice cast and a visionary sense of world-building, Elio is a fun and lovable movie. Dare I say that it works better than the new Lilo & Stitch “live-action” remake? It should make for an enjoyable matinee at your local cinema.