Elio

Pixar's latest has a lot going for it, and its premise-a lost child trying to find his place in the world-is a strong one. However, despite moments of great dialogue and brave, original character designs, the story struggles to overcome its inherent structural issues.

That's not to say Elio is unwatchable. The lead characters have charm, and there are flashes of brilliance. But it feels like a film that could have been so much more, if only more thought had been given to how the middle section was constructed. Events and characters are introduced and discarded too quickly, existing more to serve plot progression than to enrich the story. As a result, both the wonderful beginning and well-conceived conclusion are let down by a workmanlike narrative that fails to connect the dots in a satisfying way. The emotional beats are technically there, but they're crammed in, making the climax feel unearned and predictable.

From an animation standpoint, this is one of Pixar's best in years. The character designs are daring and imaginative, with bold choices-such as some characters being designed without eyes-that showcase Pixar's creativity and technical skill. Even the odd decision to use low-frame-rate slow motion (which unfortunately ends up looking more like Claymation) demonstrates a willingness to experiment.

In the end, there's not much to hate about Elio, but the lack of meaningful secondary characters to justify Elio's departure-or his return-makes the film feel less original than it should. It often echoes previous Pixar works like Finding Nemo or WALL-E, just wrapped in different packaging. With a stronger narrative structure, it could have stood shoulder to shoulder with those classics. As it is, Elio seems destined to be a film that kids watch in fragments-engaged by some parts and indifferent to others.

Like Marvel, Pixar may now be a victim of its own high standards. Only true originality-in both concept and construction-will allow it to reclaim its former glory.

There's something deeply satisfying about sitting down for a film and realising - thank god - it's not a reboot, not a sequel, not a reimagining of an 80s toy you forgot existed. 'Elio' is a brand-new Pixar original, and I liked that. The concept? Brilliant on paper. An 11-year-old boy accidentally becomes Earth's ambassador to an intergalactic council. It sets the stage for something wild, emotional, and full of imagination.

And it's cute. It really is. The alien designs are charming, the colours pop, and the relationship between Elio and his mum is genuinely lovely. There are moments that tug at the heart, and Glordon (his gooey alien pal) is an absolute standout.

But 'Elio' plays it painfully safe. It never fully commits to the weirdness or depth that the premise begs for. It follows a very familiar Pixar formula and never strays far from it. You can see every emotional beat and plot point coming a mile away.

This kind of story - kid feels like an outsider, gets whisked into a cosmic adventure, discovers they're more than they thought - has been done too many times, and better. Think 'E. T.', 'The Iron Giant', 'Lilo & Stitch'. 'Elio' doesn't quite hit those emotional highs or carve out a voice of its own.

That said, if you've got kids, take them - they'll have a great time. It's sweet, wholesome, and easy to watch. But if you're expecting something truly new or memorable, this one's probably fine to skip until it hits streaming.

Final Verdict: 🌟 Lovely to look at, but plays it too safe.

👶 Great for little ones.

📺 Best saved for Disney+.

Just didn't hit anything and was overall a bit meh. Predict this will finish it run and melt away into obscurity. The story was not very well built and rumbled along on the ruins of whatever it was they tried to build. It needed a small funny sidekick at the very minimum. I know its an overused trope but this film needed laughs from somewhere cause it couldn't find them anywhere else. It tied up pretty neatly and everything worked out as you'd expect but not enough for me to be the slightest bit interested in the after credit scene.

I'll repeat myself but it was meh and we'll, boring.

Best thing about it is the use of Talking Heads in the soundtrack.

Eight out of ten!!!. I really enjoyed this film & i didn't expect two aliens to have me teary eyed leaving the theater!! Yall should take y'all kids to see!! I seen a lot of grown adults complaining about this film when it's not for them, it's for children. I'm sure the kids will enjoy regardless of what you ppl are talking about. My nieces and nephews enjoyed every second of ELio !! I honestly don't have any complaints whatsoever, the storyline was great, it teaches kids about true friendship with anyone or anything no matter what, it shows how you can overcome bullying and even make friends w those who once bullied you. It's all around a lot of positive messages being sent in this film.

A very entertaining film that's not just for kids - adults will find a lot to appreciate, too. The main character is incredibly sweet and deals with relatable, everyday issues in a heartfelt way.

Visually, it's beautifully animated as you'd expect from Pixar. It definitely resembles ,Luca' regarding its looks.

More importantly, the story touches on timely and meaningful themes: loneliness, grief, and how people from different backgrounds can come together when it really matters. It's thought-provoking without being heavy. Definitely worth watching, even if it's not among Pixar's absolute top-tier films.