Pixar returns to the cosmos with Elio — a new animated sci-fi adventure featuring the voices of Zoe Saldaña, Yonas Kibreab, Remy Edgerly, and Brad Garrett. Though expectations were high, the reception has been mixed, suggesting the studio’s storytelling formula may be showing signs of fatigue.
A Familiar Yet Emotionally Charged Premise
Elio, arriving in theaters this Friday, follows a young boy grieving the loss of his parents. He becomes captivated by outer space and dreams of alien abduction, a metaphor for his emotional escape. While this premise mixes whimsy and sadness — a hallmark of Pixar — critics feel the result lacks originality.
Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson critiques the film for treading familiar ground. While he praises its visual flair, he notes that its emotional themes feel recycled:
“Pixar has begun doing what it once seemed it never would: repeating itself.”
Thematic Conflict: Grief vs. Identity
The film attempts to explore themes of grief and self-acceptance, yet critics argue it doesn’t balance them effectively. Vulture’s Alison Willmore points to the film’s developmental changes — originally helmed by Coco writer Adrian Molina, and later joined by Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian — as a reason behind the tonal inconsistency.
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“Elio plays like something that was imperfectly assembled from its component parts,” she writes.
Character Depth: A Missed Opportunity
IndieWire’s Wilson Chapman draws a comparison between Elio and Lilo from Lilo & Stitch. Where Lilo felt unique and unpredictable, Elio appears overly sanitized and safe — likable, but forgettable.
Yonas Kibreab’s voice performance is charming, but the character’s emotional core feels diluted.
Visual Appeal vs. Narrative Familiarity
According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han, the film delivers the expected visual excellence but struggles to innovate narratively. It’s a “perfectly nice kiddie sci-fi adventure,” she notes, but lacks the deep, transformative experience Pixar is known for.
Not Without Heart: A Divisive but Poignant Film
Despite the criticism, not all reviews were lukewarm. IGN’s Carlos Aguilar awarded Elio a 9 out of 10, praising its humor, visuals, and emotional insight. He believes it will resonate especially with younger viewers and highlights its sincere exploration of joy and sorrow.
“It’s one of the studio’s most poignant projects to date,” Aguilar writes.
Critical Consensus
On Rotten Tomatoes, Elio holds an 83% “fresh” rating, while Metacritic shows a more tempered 61%, indicating “generally favorable” reviews. The film has sparked a wide range of reactions — from heartfelt acclaim to thoughtful critique.
