Elemental Review (2023) Pixars Original Romcom Catches Fire
There was a time when the arrival of a new Pixar original film like Peter Son's romantic comedy Elemental was a big deal. Families have spent months staring, watching, crying and crying over the latest creation from Hollywood's most innovative animation house. But unfortunately everything has changed.
Elemental comes at an inauspicious time for Pixar. in the year
Meanwhile, most of Disney's top movies seem to have fewer theaters before entering the company's stream. By the time Lighter came along, the buzz or buzz was gone, and it was a huge commercial disappointment.
In fact, it's a shame to see Elemental in this context, because the film retains its charm: the beautiful, artistic studio behind some of the best animated films ever made. Ten years ago, at the time of Inside Out, it was a monster hit.
The film is set in Element City, a cosmopolitan utopia inhabited by the four classical elements: Earth, Wind, Water and Fire.
However, it is far from an ideal society for firefighters, who are the last to live in the city after a storm destroyed their hometown. They experience discrimination against other parties - the first thing that happens is changing their names because it is difficult to pronounce them in English - and they develop a lack of trust in them.
Firebrand Amber (Leah Lewis) is about to take over the family store from her crazy father (Ronnie Del Carmen) until she gets her temper under control. Wade (Mamudu Atti) encounters the elemental water, a city official who enforces the rules to the point of closing a shop because of bad plumbing.
Unlike the best Pixar films, Elemental doesn't feel the need to break stereotypes by telling a story inspired by the best romantic comedies. Narratively, it's as formulaic as Elemental: Knowing the Beautiful is very textbook, and there are plenty of quotes.
However, Son and three famous screenwriters have created a fascinating world that tells about the experiences of real immigrant families. In fact, a statement in the credits thanked "everyone who shared their family stories with us."
So this may not be the main part of the story, but it has truth and humanity. This is very important. Warmth radiates from every corner of the film, supported by fantastic visual gags; this world and its unique character designs offer plenty of opportunities to slap.
Atty and Lewis provide dedicated vocals, often finding an impossible-to-create chemistry when the two people record their conversation in a sound-blocking booth. Wade and Leah are believable as antagonists and as a couple, and the script relies on making their dynamic relationship central to the story, even before the premise. Instead of focusing on allegory, using allegory to inform the characters is a good choice.
Not that the metaphor doesn't hit hard. Fire elements deal with micro and macro attacks from other teams on a daily basis and add a sense of realism. This precision is also behind the camera. The song pays tribute to his Korean immigrant parents, and lead actors Louis and Ati came to America as children from China and Mauritania, respectively.
The overall effect is sincerity, joy and appreciation. In a world where many children's films are built on petty sarcasm and bubbly characters, Sona's film goes surprisingly wrong at times.
He wears a giant heart made of water and fire on his sleeve. There's no reason why it can't be a huge hit. After all, it has all the ingredients.
If this piques your interest, you can learn to watch Elemental and see that there was Pixar before Elemental. We also explained that the design element looks like a horror character from Lord of the Rings. Plus, check out Pixar's latest film with our Lightyear review and Tim Peake interview.
Or, for the best Pixar movies, check out our guides to Inside Out 2 release dates, Toy Story 5 release dates, and Lightyear 2 release dates.
It's not top-notch Pixar, but it's a sweet and heartwarming story with an important message about tolerance and diversity. It's the studio's most romantic film to date, so there will be tears.
