Elio Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Pixar’s newest film aims for the stars, yet doesn’t really take off due to its thinly drawn characters. This space adventure struggles to find its charm in its chaotic orbit.

Genre: Adventure / Animation / Comedy / Drama 

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi & Adrian Molina 

Cast: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, Brandon Moon, Dylan Gilmer, Jake Getman & Matthias Schweighöfer.

Run Time: 99 min.

US Release: 20 June 2025

UK Release: 20 June 2025

German Release: 19 June 2025

A new year, a new Pixar release, or so you should think, because if this is the first time you have heard of Elio, it wouldn’t surprise me, as there has been barely any marketing for this animated feature. One of the earliest teasers even advertised a completely different movie. So what the hell is happening? There is no concrete proof of this, although patterns have emerged since the pandemic, showing Disney is intentionally sabotaging the marketing of original Pixar productions. Having said that, this space adventure isn’t the studio's best work. So, get ready to traverse hyperspace with me, as we decode my review for this animation. 

Elio Solís is a young space fanatic with too much imagination, going through an existential identity crisis. When he gets abducted by extraterrestrial beings, he must navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions while forming new bonds with alien life forms.

This original production, by the house of Luxo Jr., saw several development issues before finalisation. First, Adrian Molina, the original director, as well as story creator, left as he felt he couldn’t finish the project. Then, as Madelie Sharafian plus Domee Shi were tasked to finish the film, studio execs pushed the duo to remove any “queer-coded” personality traits the lead might have, including his love for fashion and environmentalism. In a nutshell, this is the flick’s main issue: a lack of heart that got robbed. 

Before we jump into the negatives, let me explain that this new computer-generated cartoon is not all bad. For one, the creatively colourful intergalactic community contains a variety of species, sharing their goal of peaceful coexistence, to strive intellectually, just like technologically (much like Mass Effect’s Citadel). Then there is the typical playful Pixar charm it contains, which we all came to love, even though this is a dull tale.

Sadly, the rest of the narrative is a mess. The change of tone, remodelling the characters, as well as recontextualising the complete premise, has left visual marks, with scenes feeling forcefully pieced together, creating a lagging momentum around the second act, with inconsistent pacing. Having taken the original regisseur’s voice from the final product, the plot jumps aimlessly between emotional beats without any proper sense of direction, struggling to balance its original humour with emotional integrity, both being underwritten.

Exposition-heavy dialogues are used to explain the functionality of this world, instead of being shown. Though some of the alien creatures do deliver a brief chuckle, most of the jokes feel forced, falling flat. This also impacts the couple of heartfelt segments, as out-of-place humour is embedded that breaks up the moment. 

Elio himself, voiced by Yonas Kibreab, isn’t instantly likeable. Though the trauma of losing his parents is understandable, the way he behaves is rude, dangerous, and he outright lies to get his way. He doesn’t even try to connect with other humans, instead alienating himself from the world, wishing to be abducted, then blaming others for his troubles. It is at the end of the second act that he opens up, though by then the damage has been dealt. His redeeming arc is underdeveloped, rushing through dramatic moments with his aunt.

Aunt Olga, spoken by Zoe Saldaña, gave up a career as an astronaut once she adopted Elio. However, her arc itself is underdeveloped, with the character not given enough screen time. Clearly overwhelmed by Elio’s behaviour, she makes a fatal error in sending him to a summer camp, impacting her likability, though this is quickly redeemed when she immediately picks him up, feeling guilty about it. 

Glordon, voiced by Remy Edgerly, is a young Hylurgian who befriends Elio. His childhood of misunderstandings and feelings of isolation mirrors that of the protagonist. Regrettably, just like the rest of the supporting cast, he was given no real depth.

Cinematographically, this children’s flick is as always solid, making use of strong, vibrant colours that distinguish the alien world from Earth's more grounded hues. Equally, the use of shadows in the Hylurgian ship creates a sense of unease plus threat. The dynamic movement gives space-travelling sequences a fluidity that is injected with energy, mimicking live-action approaches. That said, it also suffers from visual clutter.

The animation technique uses expressive facial animation for humans, just like a variety of creative character designs, as well as interstellar settings. Sadly, as imaginative as these are, the realistic renditions of humans clash at times with the more cartoonish depictions of aliens. The biggest issue is that, though visually impressive, the animation lacks the “wow” factor delivered by the studio. 

The sound effects detail the different auditory identities of the many extraterrestrial creatures plus races. Unluckily, it also falls into repetitive patterns. The music, composed by Rob Simonsen, who also worked on the soundtrack for The Whale, complements the visual wonders.

Verdict: I am heartbroken at needing to criticise an original idea so harshly; however, the messy production, change of directors, and interference by studio executives turned this children's animation into a messy, stitched-together premise. With major characterisation changes by rewriting the core plot, the story is left hollow without a soul. The pacing is off, containing low-stakes, prolonging uninteresting beats, and rushing through important emotional instances. Literally everyone feels underwritten, which is also true of the protagonist. The voice acting is fine, though it can at times feel overly theatrical. The animation is beautiful, containing a variety of different designs, but lacks the Pixar “wow” factor. The cinematography is the best part of this feature. This will probably be good enough to entertain small children, though not worth paying for the theatre tickets. Wait for it when it streams on Disney+. Elio obtains a 6.0  out of 10. 

Have you seen Pixar’s new picture yet? If so, what are your thoughts? Do you agree with my review? Let me know in the comments below. As always, thank you for reading!