Elio review: Pixar's new offering is sweet and funny but lacks spark
Pixar's latest outing, 'Elio', is a heartwarming and visually rich journey that feels both contemporary and comfortably familiar. Voiced by Yonas Kibreab, the titular Elio is a daydreaming, orphaned misfit who ends up becoming Earth's accidental ambassador in a colourful alien world. The result is a film that's sweet, funny, and family-friendly, but also one that lacks the spark of Pixar's finest works.advertisementDirected by Adrian Molina with co-directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, 'Elio' is packed with warmth and wonder, but much of it stays on the surface. The film's premise revolves around an imaginative child being mistaken for someone important in an otherworldly setting. This setting leans heavily into Pixar's well-worn 'misunderstood kid meets magical world' template. It is almost like 'Inside Out' meets 'Lilo & Stitch', but without the same emotional punch or layered depth.The film begins grounded in real-world science and emotional resonance, but soon the narrative slips into chaotic territory - cloning, galactic politics, and a villainous 'Blood Emperor' (voiced by Brad Garrett) whose Marvel-like menace feels misplaced.While Elio's friendship with the Emperor's insecure son Glordon (Remy Edgerly) offers the film's sweetest emotional thread, it too gets a bit lost in the chaos. Zoe Saldana brings steady warmth as Elio's aunt, but many alien characters remain forgettable and overly juvenile.advertisementWhile the premise holds promise, the writing doesn't quite rise to the occasion several times. The emotional beats feel undercooked, especially when compared to the nuanced storytelling Pixar is known for. The characters or ideas are not given enough space to breath before we transition from one place to another. The film introduces layered themes like loss, loneliness, identity but often abandons them in favour of rapid-fire plot developments and quirky distractions.
Glordon's arc and the potential father-son commentary get drowned in the visual noise. It's a script that feels like it's trying to juggle too many ideas, resulting in a finale that's flashier than fulfilling.Elio is certainly a step up from some of Disney's recent misfires. Its retro-Disney vibes, sincere message, and humour make it engaging for kids and comforting for parents. But for those expecting a bold new Pixar frontier, this cosmic tale feels just a little too safe and familiar.Elio is now out in theatres.3 out of 5 stars to Elio.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
US Man Pays Rs 80,000 For Disneyland "Princess Breakfast", Internet Stunned
A man recently shared his utter shock over the exorbitant bill he received after attending Disneyland's Princess Breakfast Adventures in California, US. Taking to X, John Tolkien shared a photo of his receipt from his family's breakfast. The bill showed an eye-watering sum of $937.65 (approximately Rs 80,000), which included a $150 tip. "Princess Breakfast' at Disneyland with my kids. Almost spit out my coffee," he captioned the post. Elsewhere in the thread, he clarified that the breakfast was for five people. He also claimed that he hadn't looked at the $142 (around Rs 12,000) price tag per person before booking. "Before seeing the bill I thought it would be about half this," Mr Tolkien wrote, noting that the total included the five members of his family, plus a single alcoholic beverage. 'Princess Breakfast' at Disneyland with my kids. Almost spit out my coffee — John 'Rock & Roll' Tolkien (@jrockandrollt) June 16, 2025 According to The Independent, the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures, which is held at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, features three courses, including an appetiser tower of mini lobster rolls and various breads, an array of main courses for adults to choose from, and princess-inspired desserts. Children can also choose chicken and Mickey waffles, or macaroni and cheese with bacon for their main course. The price of the meal starts at $142 for adults and children ages 3 to 9, per the site, and top and tax is not included. Sharing his experience, Mr Tolkien said, "It was fun, the food was probably 7 / 10, service was attentive and enthusiastic, princesses were all trained pro actresses and spent a lot of time with the kids. I enjoyed it." he also shared a photo of his plate, admitting that the "breakfast was good". "Kids enjoyed it, so I think it was worth it. The kids definitely learned some new words when I opened the bill though.," he continued. Mr Tolkien's post quickly caught the internet's attention, with social media users sharing various reactions. Several users believed that the outrage was misplaced, as the prices are disclosed during bookings. Others took issue with the $150 tip, saying that the tipping norms have become excessive. "They are pretty clear at the Grand California about the cost of that per guest and it takes months to get a reservation," wrote one user. "Bro they tell you the price when you book, if you're surprised that's on you," commented another. "I got a 155 dollar tip on Sunday and I still think tips should scale down slightly as the bill gets higher. At some point you're paying too much money for the service when the service isn't any different than if you had a 300 dollar meal," wrote a third user. "Would've been less had you not tipped 21ish percent. Especially since those people aren't normal wiaters and waitresses I can assume they aren't making minimum wage at a Disney restaurant," said another.
Pink Villa
2 hours ago
- Pink Villa
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Priyanka Chopra gets candid about being away from Malti Marie during Mahesh Babu's SSMB29 shoot
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have never failed to set relationship goals. From celebrating and accepting each other's culture to being expressive about their immense love for one another, they have often proved what real love looks like. Ever since they welcomed their daughter, their world has revolved around her. Recently, Priyanka spoke about her daughter Malti Marie's busy school schedule. The actress also spoke about her upcoming project, SSMB29, with Mahesh Babu. Priyanka Chopra on being away from Malti Marie On Jimmy Fallon's show, The Tonight Show, Priyanka Chopra spoke about her daughter Malti in detail and mentioned how the little one is "precocious and funny." Priyanka further confirmed shooting a project in India and said, "I'm filming a movie in India, so I fly back and forth from there. So we're based on the East Coast, summer right now, and she's (Malti) going to school here." The actress even elaborated how Malti Marie has her little clique of friends, and her schedule is even crazier than hers. The actress even spoke about her daughter's interests and musical tastes. Priyanka talked about Malti's favorite Disney movies and how she still isn't quite aware that her father is a pop star. Priyanka even said that Malti calls her dad Nick and his brothers "Doughnut Brothers." In the same interview, Priyanka Chopra also spoke about her upcoming film, Heads Of State, where she will be playing a top M16 agent. About SSMB29 Coming back to SSMB29, the SS Rajamouli directional stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in pivotal roles. The movie's extravagant action sequence will involve nearly 3,000 members. The shoot was expected to take place in Hyderabad this month. SSMB29 is touted as a globe-trotting adventure movie. The film was initially speculated to continue shooting until 2026 and release in 2027. However, an update on the same is awaited. For the uninformed, SSMB29 also marks the first collaboration of Mahesh Babu and SS Rajamouli.
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Elio review: Pixar's new offering is sweet and funny but lacks spark
Pixar's latest outing, 'Elio', is a heartwarming and visually rich journey that feels both contemporary and comfortably familiar. Voiced by Yonas Kibreab, the titular Elio is a daydreaming, orphaned misfit who ends up becoming Earth's accidental ambassador in a colourful alien world. The result is a film that's sweet, funny, and family-friendly, but also one that lacks the spark of Pixar's finest by Adrian Molina with co-directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, 'Elio' is packed with warmth and wonder, but much of it stays on the surface. The film's premise revolves around an imaginative child being mistaken for someone important in an otherworldly setting. This setting leans heavily into Pixar's well-worn 'misunderstood kid meets magical world' template. It is almost like 'Inside Out' meets 'Lilo & Stitch', but without the same emotional punch or layered film begins grounded in real-world science and emotional resonance, but soon the narrative slips into chaotic territory - cloning, galactic politics, and a villainous 'Blood Emperor' (voiced by Brad Garrett) whose Marvel-like menace feels Elio's friendship with the Emperor's insecure son Glordon (Remy Edgerly) offers the film's sweetest emotional thread, it too gets a bit lost in the chaos. Zoe Saldana brings steady warmth as Elio's aunt, but many alien characters remain forgettable and overly the premise holds promise, the writing doesn't quite rise to the occasion several times. The emotional beats feel undercooked, especially when compared to the nuanced storytelling Pixar is known for. The characters or ideas are not given enough space to breath before we transition from one place to another. The film introduces layered themes like loss, loneliness, identity but often abandons them in favour of rapid-fire plot developments and quirky distractions. Glordon's arc and the potential father-son commentary get drowned in the visual noise. It's a script that feels like it's trying to juggle too many ideas, resulting in a finale that's flashier than is certainly a step up from some of Disney's recent misfires. Its retro-Disney vibes, sincere message, and humour make it engaging for kids and comforting for parents. But for those expecting a bold new Pixar frontier, this cosmic tale feels just a little too safe and is now out in theatres.3 out of 5 stars to Elio.
