Elio: A Disappointing Journey Through Space - A Review of Pixars Latest Animated Film

In "Elio," a new animated film from Pixar, we follow the story of an 11-year-old orphan named Elio (voiced by Yonas Kibreab), who lives with his aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña) after the death of his parents. Elio is a lonely child who longs to be abducted by aliens, to the point where he invites the attention of spaceships and begs them to take him away from life on Earth.

When Elio's wish is granted, he is zapped up to the Communiverse, where he is welcomed as the ambassador to Earth by new species. Although he has no official designation, Elio goes along with the ruse, as a 11-year-old living his dream in outer space is unlikely to tattle on himself.

Elio befriends Glordon (voiced by Remy Edgerly), a worm-like larva creature with a warm heart, and they find commonalities despite their distinct genetic makeup. Glordon fears his father, Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), a tyrannical leader who wants to overthrow the Communiverse and is modeled after "Toy Story's" Zurg. Meanwhile, Elio's cloned duplicate back on Earth is too well-behaved to pass for Elio and is raising suspicions, especially those of his aunt.

Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, "Elio" falls into the range of third-tier Pixar films. It's cute enough but doesn't stand out in terms of character, humor, or wit. The film skews young, targeting 7-year-olds, and doesn't offer anything for adults to grab onto. It doesn't ask much on its own behalf and doesn't give much in return.

While "Elio" is a passable piece of family entertainment, it's far from what we once expected from the company that brought us "Up," "WALL-E," and "Inside Out." It's nothing special and doesn't live up to the glory days of Pixar's past. The film may be entertaining for young children, but it fails to deliver the same level of creativity and depth that fans have come to expect from Pixar.