Elio Review: One of Pixar's best films
The poster and idea of this film seemed adorably whimsical, but as consistently evident as Pixar's quality is, the last few movies have really let themselves down in marketing. While the Pixar name is enough to get me to buy a ticket and show up, the marketing wasn't doing this film any favors. Nevertheless, I'm adamant about rebuking the claim that Pixar "fell off" because, frankly, Lightyear and Turning Red aren't any more of a miss for me than The Good Dinosaur and Brave—I'd take the former two any day. And films like Luca, Elemental, and Soul? Almost as good as Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Up. Yeah, I'm going there. Feel free to leave if you don't like me saying that. I love both old and modern Pixar. So, did Elio continue their incredible, nigh never-faltering track record? That's what I, Brighton Nelson, will be discussing in today's Reel Ranker review. Thanks so much for joining me, and I hope you enjoy your time on the site!
Let's start with the negatives so we can save the best for last. First, like Elemental, the trailer captured nearly nothing about what makes this film so special. It did a disservice to everyone who put their heart and soul into this film. Second, I understand why the watering down of the queer-coding disappointed many. While I think Elio is a great character as-is, taking away part of his identity didn't make much sense, especially when it could've made the film hit harder.
Third, while I didn't care because I'm happy to see a different approach, I get why spelling out a lot of the subtext and existentialism, instead of mostly showing it, was a pivot for Pixar—yes, it made the film less nuanced. Still, a tiny bit of melodrama this one time isn't the end of the world. I also understand why many felt Elio was an unlikable, rude protagonist, but... Maybe it's because my job involves working with plenty of slightly troubled children, and I was just as much of a daydreamer at his age, but the character absolutely worked for me, and I can't deny I really felt for the kid. Lastly, the film's animation wasn't very interesting. With so many creative, boundary-pushing animation flicks coming out these days, Elio looked like one of the most generic Pixar entries. The film doesn't look bad; don't get me wrong, it looks really good. But compared to Elemental, it feels like a regression, not a step forward.
But now that all that preamble is out of the way, I can't deny it—this is one of my favorite Pixar films, and the pushback that it is generic has really surprised me. For me, this is comfortably a top five Pixar film, rivaling Ratatouille, WALL-E, Coco, and the two Inside Out films.
Elio is a heartwarming yet beautiful tale of loss and friendship. It explores finding solace in what we have and reminds us that, even if we dream big, we must not take what we have right in front of us for granted. This story touched me on a profound level, like Soul—both explore purpose, but this one does so through childhood wonder instead of from the perspective of an adult figure. Yet both are equally poignant, showing us that living in the moment and not letting ambition consume us matters. Elio goes to space, where he's always wanted to go—where he always thought he would belong. Yet, through his misadventures, he learns his aunt was there for him all along.
"I don't understand you, but I love you," says his Aunt Olga Solís. In the original script, Olga was his mom, but I loved the idea of making her his aunt because knowing she never had to take care of him makes all the moments hit even harder for me. As someone who would do the same for my little cousins if worst comes to worst, the aunt has quickly become one of Pixar's hidden-gem characters—she may have a flawed understanding of Elio, but she's anything but a bad aunt.
The vibes of this movie were fantastic, and everything that Lightyear wanted to be. Taking another attempt at a sci-fi adventure flick, this one blends a more bizarre, WALL-E-esque space setting with the homey town of Portorosso in Luca, the otherworldly nature of Soul's afterlife, and Toy Story's adorable character-design emphasis. Some might call this creative inbreeding, but I'd call it a greatest-hits entourage. The alien character designs here were so cute—I loved all of them!
Especially Glordon—the highlight of this movie. He's what elevates this film from a fantastic film to a Pixar masterwork for me. He's adorable, lovable, and everything anyone could ever want in a friend. Since watching this film, I've known a Glordon plushie is near the top of my Christmas wishlist. But he isn't just Pixar's cutest character—he also has a wonderful story with his father, full of twists, turns, and some of the most emotional moments. This story serves as a wonderful foil for Elio's: two very different people with very different parentage, but both realize that even if their guardians live very different lives, they can still love their kids. This movie will make you practically weep if you've ever been a super misunderstood child or misunderstood family member. I happen to fit cleanly into both.
While Elio suffers from subpar animation, poor marketing, a watered-down original concept, and less visual subtext than previous films, it transcends those flaws with profound emotional resonance. Blending the charm of WALL-E, Luca, and Soul, the film delivers a heartwarming exploration of childhood ambition, loss, and living in the moment. It's a tear-jerking, deeply relatable movie for anyone who's ever felt misunderstood, and it's one of my favorite Pixar movies.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 95%
Letter Score: S+
Star Ranking: 5 out of 5
While Elio suffers from generic animation, a disservice of a marketing campaign, watered-down queer coding, and less visual subtext than classic Pixar, it completely transcends those flaws with its profound emotional resonance. Blending the charm of WALL-E, Luca, and Soul, the film delivers a heartwarming exploration of childhood ambition, loss, and living in the moment. Anchored by the inspired choice to make Olga an aunt and elevated by Glordon’s incredible storyline, Elio is a tear-jerking, deeply relatable triumph for anyone who has ever felt misunderstood—comfortably landing among Pixar's top five.
Interested in checking out my reviews for other animated, comedy, and drama movies? See them below!
Brighton Nelson
Brighton Nelson
Brighton Nelson
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