Elemental
DISNEYPixar, as a company, has released films to a resounding applause for several decades at this point in time. Sure, there've been a few misfires, whether that be critically (Cars 2) or commercially (The Good Dinosaur) but their track record is unmistakable: Pixar makes successful films. Then something strange happened. The world shutdown for the Covid-19 pandemic and their films weren't going into theaters, they were becoming immediately available via Disney+. Soul, Luca, and Turning Red were admittedly critical darlings, but they were marketing gimmicks for the flagship streaming service at best. When the world opened back up we received the final nail in the coffin for Pixar in the form of Lightyear. A film made for no one that no one saw. Pixar's films were not being marketed properly. And now the world has arrived at the next big Pixar property: Elemental.
Elemental, directed by Peter Sohn, was marketed as a straight-laced romantic comedy with a twist; it takes place in a world full of different groups of individuals who are made of the elements. What isn't properly conveyed is how it is also a gorgeously told immigrant story as well. The beauty of this story is that it does something that lacked from last year's Lightyear as well, it feels real. It feels like a story filled to the brim with the human element. Helping this tremendously is Peter Sohn bringing real life experience to the immigrant story on display here. Humanity leads to wonderful things in film, especially animation, and Elemental is brimming with just that.
While the film has plenty of visual gags and fun animation galore, there's something to be said about taking a concept that felt, admittedly, stale from first announcement and turning it into a magical escape. Elemental had "cliché Pixar film" written all over it. Now, clichés exist for a reason and Pixar has made a name for itself with giving personality to inanimate objects since day one. Elemental really is no exception. The difference between this and something like Cars 2, on the other hand, is that this may play larger to a more adult audience. Pixar has never been shy to aim themselves a bit higher than many other animation studios by trying to grasp onto the hearts and minds of everyone, as opposed to only children.
By having this film leave a lasting impact on the viewer through clever, emotionally driven dialogue, gorgeous animation, and some genuinely laugh out loud moments, Pixar has done the job of creating another piece of its canon that will last for years to come. Endearing performances play a massive role in this with Leah Lewis, as Ember, showing every side of her personality with fiery delight and a desire to take on the generational trauma that has been bestowed upon her, and Mamoudou Athie, playing Wade with whimper and laugh in a genuinely heartfelt turn that ignites some genuine chemistry with Lewis' Ember.
Elemental is not the finest film Pixar has ever made, and it is unfortunately flying under plenty of radars, but it is one worth at least giving a chance to. There's something for the kids, characters such as Clod, whom bring a childlike wonder and humor to the film, and something for the parents, a genuine heartfelt romance, and there's something to be commended about them making both these entire separate elements appealing to all ages.