‘Elio’ explores friendship and belonging across the stars

CEBU, Philippines —  Pixar’s previous entry to space, “Wall-E,” shows that there can still be life on Earth, even if it may look impossible. In “Elio,” the Disney studio returns to space to discover what if there is life beyond Earth, and what it means to us in the grand scheme of the universe.

The titular character is an 11-year-old boy (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) who loses his parents and is taken care of by his aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña), who works at NASA. Fascinated by space and the possibility of extraterrestrial creatures living above the clouds, Elio makes it a mission to be abducted, much to the annoyance of his aunt.

His hunch is correct: there are aliens, and they have abducted him. But the aliens, very far off from the typical Area 51 stereotypes, didn’t abduct a random boy. They thought they picked up the leader of Earth, abruptly putting intergalactic diplomatic responsibilities on an 11-year-old in a fake-it-till-you-make-it scenario.

Amidst a political crisis involving a Lord Grigon who seeks to conquer the galaxy, Elio befriends his son Glordon, who is friendly and does not wish to take over his dad’s throne, let alone be his minion.

“Elio” is a larger-than-life journey of self-discovery as he finds his place in the wider universe and questions whether his life is in space or back on Earth, where he feels like an outsider in his own home.

Throughout its hour-and-a-half runtime, which unfolds both in space and on Earth, the film takes a while to find its footing, with the plot finally connecting the dots in the third act. This may turn off some viewers who prefer a faster-paced story.

Even with its sizable length, it’s surprisingly a bit of a slow-burn for a Pixar film, which makes sense, given the character-driven nature of the story, where Elio’s decisions have consequences.

The film strongly emphasizes the importance of relationships, starting with the dysfunctional parent-like relationship of Elio and Olga, whose boyish curiosity clashes with her realistic, no-nonsense parenting style.

A subplot involves Elio sending a decoy version of himself to Earth to erase suspicion that he has disappeared from the planet. This version is Olga’s idealized image of her nephew, leading Elio to believe that his aunt might be better off with the cloned version of him for good.

Olga realizes that this isn’t the same stubborn Elio she’s used to because he’s too perfect, leading her to discover what actually happened to him. It shows that the dynamics between a carefree nephew and his strict aunt in a son-mother-like relationship are complex and nuanced, but rooted in love and understanding.

Elio also quickly gets along with Glordon and attempts to fulfill his wish of not becoming his father through the same cloning technology. This later backfires, leading to increasing tension between the overlord and the rest of the galaxy.

It highlights the importance of friendship and having a similar problem with their parent-like figures, expecting them to be the people they envision them to be, making this a relatable tale for those who struggle to get their parents’ validation while living a life that is true to them and not bound to expectations.

“Elio” is also packed with humor that will surely make both kids and adults laugh. There are certain moments, including a horror parody scene in the third act, that poke fun at familiar tropes.

In the age of generative artificial intelligence, it may seem easy to replicate Pixar’s signature 3D animation style in a matter of minutes, possibly even seconds. But with “Elio,” it’s clear that AI has nothing on the creative labor of the animators who poured their hard work into the film, giving it soul and identity that translate into effective storytelling.

For an animated Disney film targeted at kids, it was given a PG rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), possibly due to certain strong sequences that could frighten young viewers. It’s best for parents to guide them when these scenes come on.

Whether or not there are other beings in space isn’t the point of this Disney-Pixar film. It’s about finding our place in the world, and how our relationships – with a relative, an alien friend, or loved ones we’ve lost – help define who we are and where we truly belong.

It makes sense why this movie is led by a young boy. He is about to reach puberty, but is still a kid clinging to the ideals that his late parents imparted to him, making “Elio” a highly relatable story that people of all ages can enjoy with its heartfelt, emotional story. Three and a half stars out of five.