Elio: Adventure/Sci-Fi, a Review

**Minor Spoilers Ahead**

With such a vast and expansive universe, many of us at one point or another have thought about donning a space suit, exploring the stars, and answering the age-old question: “Are we alone?” Pixar’s Elio dives head first into this query.

The film follows the titular character Elio (Yonas Kibreab), a young boy who is sent to live with his aunt Olga (Zoe Saldana) after the loss of his parents. Though Olga tries her best to connect with Elio, he struggles to feel a sense of belonging. That is until he takes up a fascination with space which sparks a quest to find his place within the cosmos.

Elio: A Heartwarming Story Encompassed by Stunning Visuals.

From the moment Elio takes his final look at Earth, we’re transported to the stunning landscapes and vibrant alien life of the Communiverse — an intergalactic utopia where the universe’s brightest minds gather.

Countless breathtaking sights, from a bustling hub world teeming with unique alien species to a bathroom made entirely of cascading waterfalls carry us away.

While in the Communiverse, Elio is mistaken for the leader of Earth and tasked with reconciling relations between the Communiverse and Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), a powerful figure who vows to destroy it after being denied entry.

While it would’ve been easy for the filmmakers to get lost in the endless possibilities of a sci-fi space epic, Elio remains grounded at its heart. As much as I enjoyed the friendship between Elio and Glordon (Remy Edgerly), Grigon’s son, the real heart of the story lies in the relationship between Elio and Olga.

The two struggle to connect — Olga unsure of how to parent a grieving child, and Elio feeling like a burden no one understands. But through their journey, they come to realize how deeply they love and need each other.

Final Impressions of Elio

Elio is a fantastic film — one that moved me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s heartfelt and visually stunning, and it carries an emotional resonance that lingers. If you’ve ever felt alone in the vastness of the universe, this movie serves as a beautiful reminder that you never are.

While Elio has a great story like any movie, it’s not without its flaws. One of the more noticeable issues is the pacing. For a story that promises a grand space adventure, we spend a considerable amount of time on Earth, with scenes that feel unnecessarily drawn out.

Then, once Elio finally reaches the Communiverse, events unfold so rapidly it feels like the movie wraps up in the blink of an eye.

Another issue I had — though it’s more of a frustration than a flaw — is how the central relationship between Elio and Olga, which should be the emotional anchor of the film, often takes a backseat.

While I admire Pixar’s impressive technical achievements and rich worldbuilding, those moments sometimes overshadow the more intimate, emotional beats. The film could have benefited from a better balance between its dazzling sci-fi elements and its heartfelt story.

At its core, the film delivers a deeply human lesson — one that stands out as the most powerful and memorable part of the movie: You’re never alone. And, ultimately, that is good enough to bring this story full circle for me, leaving me with positive feelings and a recommendation for this flawed but beautiful film.

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Marquis Liburd

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Marquis Liburd is a filmmaker with a degree in film and a couple years of experience in editing and production. He’s a big fan of movies and loves breaking them down to see what makes them work. A lifelong lover of superheroes and comic books, much of his inspiration comes from bold, character-driven stories. One day, he hopes to make feature films of his own. Whether he’s working on a project or geeking out over a great scene, Marquis is all about storytelling and finding fresh ways to bring it to life.

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