Pixar’s latest animated feature, Elio, blasts off with a heartfelt story of self-discovery, family bonds, and interstellar diplomacy, wrapped in the studio’s signature blend of humor and emotional depth. Directed by Domee Shi, the film introduces Elio Solis, a young boy with a fascination for outer space, whose unexpected journey to an alien alliance called the Communiverse changes his life—and the galaxy—forever.
The story begins with young Elio (voiced by Yonas Kibreab), who visits an air and space museum with his aunt, Major Olga Solis (Zoe Saldaña). Following the loss of his parents, Olga has been raising Elio, but their relationship is strained as Elio struggles to connect with peers and becomes obsessed with the idea of extraterrestrial life, inspired by the Voyager 1 exhibit. Over the years, Elio’s fixation on alien abduction grows, distancing him further from Olga, who he believes resents him for abandoning her astronaut dreams to care for him. One night, while attempting to contact aliens on a beach, Elio encounters two boys, Bryce (Dylan Gilmer) and Caleb (Jake Getman), leading to a scuffle that leaves him with a bruised eye and a hospital visit.
Olga, frustrated, takes Elio to her military base workplace, where scientist Gunther Melmac (Brendan Hunt) reveals that their computers have intercepted a message from another planet via Voyager. Elio sneaks into the control room and sends a message to space, signing off with, “Okay, bye, I love you.” The message causes a blackout at the base, infuriating Olga, who decides to send Elio to The Carver Academy summer camp. Feeling unwanted, Elio lashes out, claiming Olga isn’t his family, deepening their rift.
At camp, Elio faces Bryce and Caleb again, who plan to prank him. Meanwhile, Olga receives a cryptic message at the base: “Bring us your leader, please.” As Elio flees the bullies, a portal opens, whisking him to the Communiverse, a galactic hub where alien leaders share knowledge. Mistaking Elio for Earth’s leader due to his message, ambassadors Questa (Jameela Jamil), Helix (Brandon Moon), and Tegmen (Matthias Schweighofer) welcome him, guided by a liquid supercomputer named OOOOO (Shirley Henderson). Elio is given a disc to adapt to space conditions and learns of a threat from Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), a tyrannical Hylurkian seeking to dominate the Communiverse.
To avoid returning to Earth mid-bullying, Elio volunteers to negotiate with Grigon, using his eyepatch to claim “battle scars.” With OOOOO’s help, he creates a clone, “Other Elio,” to take his place on Earth and studies negotiation tactics via a Universal User Manual (Bob Petersen). On Grigon’s mothership, Elio’s attempt to reason with the tyrant backfires when he inadvertently insults Grigon’s parenting, landing him in a dungeon. There, he meets Grigon’s kindhearted son, Glordon (Remy Edgerly), a tardigrade-like alien who helps him escape. Elio plans to use Glordon as a bargaining chip to deter Grigon, leading to a comedic yet tense negotiation where Elio “torments” Glordon by tickling him, convincing Grigon to back off.
On Earth, Olga bonds with Other Elio, unaware he’s a clone, until his odd behavior and single eye under the eyepatch reveal the truth. Meanwhile, Elio’s plan unravels when Grigon discovers the cloned Glordon and attacks the Communiverse. Banished back to Earth, Elio reunites with Olga, who is trying to contact him. They reconcile and rush to a military base where Glordon’s ship has crashed, with Grigon weakening in Earth’s climate. Elio and Olga pilot the ship through a dangerous debris belt, guided by a remorseful Bryce and Melmac, to return Glordon to the Communiverse.
In a climactic moment, Grigon sheds his armor to save Glordon, revealing his vulnerability and love for his son. Glordon confesses he doesn’t want to be a warmonger, and Grigon accepts him. Elio declines an ambassador medal to stay with Olga, promising the Communiverse a “not now” rather than goodbye. The film closes with Elio and Olga watching the alien ship depart, joined by the camp and base community, while Elio and Bryce later connect with Glordon via ham radio.
During the credits, a teaser for Pixar’s next film, Hoppers, shows a lizard tapping a lizard emoji, hinting at more quirky adventures to come.[wide]
Post a Comment