Elio
Air Force Major Olga Solis (voice of Zoe Saldaña) is at wits end trying to recalibrate her career after the death of her brother and his wife has made her the guardian of their 11 year-old son. When he disappears during a visit to the Montez Air and Space Museum, she'll find him in an unopened exhibit about the Voyager explorer. Her nephew's newfound intense interest in outer space will blast into the stratosphere when he overhears civilian contractor Melmac (voice of Brendan Hunt) announce he believes he's gotten an extraterrestrial communique and slips into the man's office to send out a reply, begging aliens to come and get "Elio."
Laura's Review: A-
Easily one of the three best Pixar animations since 2010's "Toy Story 3," "Elio" boasts their usual themes - the pain of loss, outsiders finding their tribe and the meaning of family - all encompassed within a grand, stunningly animated adventure. This charming movie finds a young boy, feeling unloved despite his Aunt Olga's concern, looking to the stars for companionship (hello "Lilo & Stitch!").
Elio (voice of Yonas Kibreab) has a penchant for unwittingly attracting trouble. Trying to make contact with aliens, he initiates a ham radio club, fooling Bryce (voice of Dylan Gilmer) for the sole purpose of using the boy's equipment to boost his own. When Caleb (voice of Jake Getman) also arrives on the beach set as a meeting place, a scuffle erupts and Olga reacts to the fight by signing Elio up at Camp Carver, hoping her own past experience there is good for him. But when Elio disappears, his quest to be taken by aliens heard (he'll lie on a beach wearing a colander on his head, a message begging to be abducted scratched out in the sand), it will be fellow camper Bryce who witnesses the phenomenon, reporting to Olga.
Elio is whisked through galaxies, initially greeted in a blank pink space by liquid supercomputer Ooooo (voice of Shirley Henderson), who examines his makeup and outfits him with a device that allows him to control his gravity and temperature. (Ooooo will also create a clone of Elio to send back to Olga.) He is then introduced to the interplanetary Communiverse where he is given a welcoming drink of glorp by Ambassador Questa (voice of Jameela Jamil), Ambassador Helix (voice of Brandon Moon) and Ambassador Tegmen (voice of Matthias Schweighöfer). Confidently declaring himself the 'leader of Earth,' Elio is told his is a candidate for membership, but the joyful experience is cut short when the Communiverse is threatened by planet Hylurg's warlord Lord Grigon (voice of Brad Garrett), who the Ambassadors do not want to admit. Taking a gamble, Elio offers to take care of the situation in exchange for ambassadorship.
Directors Madeline Sharafian (Oscar nominated short "Burrow"), "Turning Red's" Domee Shi and "Coco's" codirector Adrian Molina have created two worlds here, the severe, drab military base and a very colorful outer space whose inhabitants are inspired by earth's underwater environment (Questa a sea dragon, Helix a walrus, Tegmen a pile of rocks). There is stunning imagery in both, a bullying scene at Camp Carver drained of color, the taunting kids masked like "Friday the 13th's" Jason, while a scene on a moonlit beach is breathtaking. There is also a tip of the hat to "Inside Out" in an emotions chart Aunt Olga shows to Elio in her office. One can see a bit of "Avatar's" beauty in the Communiverse, and Grigon and Glordon (voice of Remy Edgerly), Grigon's son who forms a touching friendship with Elio, look like the creepers of "Mickey 17."
Writers Julia Cho ("Turning Red"), Mark Hammer ("Shotgun Wedding") and Mike Jones ("Soul," "Luca") incorporate ideas and objects which will come into play during Elio, and eventually Olga's, adventure, organically and early on. The 'golden record' of Voyager, a (real) collection of messages from human children, is echoed by Elio's own message, his hasty sign-off of 'OK, bye, love you!' charmingly adopted by Communiverse's aliens. Having to put her dream of joining the astronaut program aside to care for Elio, Olga ends up in charge of tracking space debris, both figuring in the third act. Melmac is revealed to be the 'Master of Hams,' his ham radio club tying into Bryce's rescue efforts. Elio's clone inspires another to aid in his quest, while back home Olga figures out what she's dealing with in a sequence eerily inspired by 1950's sci-fi. The screenplay's revelation of Grigon's gooey center is inspired, an intimidating carapace of a war machine rejected by his son.
Pixar used to be the gold standard, but started experiencing bumps with "Cars 2." "Elio" is a very welcome return to form, an original which honors the studio's past.
Robin's Review: B+
Wildly imaginative Elio loves all things about outer space. He even wishes to be adopted by aliens. That wish is granted when he is beamed to the Communiverse, the center of all the galactic worlds, and is called upon to save the Earth in “Elio.”
Disney/Pixar gives us an adventure for all ages as we meet little Elio (Yonas Kibreab), grieving over the loss of his mom and dad. His Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldana) tries to help the boy but he shuts her out. When they go the mall one day, he wanders into a space exhibit, which includes a model of Voyager, and gets the space bug.
Elio, all alone in his mind, becomes obsessed with the idea that he can get aliens to adopt him. He uses his short wave radio to make contact and, son of a gun, he does and is beamed up to the Communiverse, where is mistaken as leader of the Earth. Of course, there is a threat to the multi-world order in the guise of Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), an evil being who wants to take over the whole enchilada.
As one expects, our diminutive hero is up to the task of saving the Communiverse, with the help of Glordan (Remy Edgerly), the evil lord’s loveable son. Here, the charm is in the adventure as Elio and his new friends work together for the common good. There is a whole lot packed into the fun story that has its roots in family.
The fantasy-sci-fi element blends in family, too, as Aunt Olga struggles to help her nephew even as he pushes her away. That relationship is carried through the whole movie and gives the adventure a nice arc of sentimentality and love – both human and alien.
Disney/Pixar releases "Elio" in theaters on 6/20/25.
