3 Reasons ‘Elio’ Isn’t Just Another Kids’ Movie
Movies
Audio By Carbonatix
10:35 AM on Friday, June 20
By Michael Foust, Movies
1. It's a Whimsical, Out-of-This-World Adventure
Elio is the 29th Pixar movie but only the third with outer space themes, following 2008's WALL-E and 2022's Lightyear.
The film's premise is based on a true-to-life space mission involving the twin 1977 NASA spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, each of which included a so-called "golden record" with sounds and images representing the diversity of life and culture on Earth. (Their primary mission was to explore the outer planets.)
The records were the brainchild of scientist and television host Carl Sagan, who posited that the discs could eventually be intercepted by aliens and serve as humanity's introduction to the cosmos. In Elio, that is exactly what happens. (In real life, NASA still has contact with those craft, even though they're some 15 billion miles from Earth.)
Elio's mission for peace between the Communiverse and Lord Grigon gets off to a rough start when he offends the alien council and is tossed in jail -- but is quickly freed when Elio befriends Lord Grigon's son, Gordon, who confides to Elio that he has no desire to follow in his father's violent footsteps. (Gordon and Grigon are actually worm-like creatures surrounded by metallic armor, making them less menacing to young viewers than typical sci-fi villains.) The two new friends then hatch an escape plan that would benefit both.
Of course, Elio's absence from Earth raises the alarm and would concern Aunt Olga -- but the Communiverse takes care of that by sending a friendly lookalike clone in his place.
Photo Credit: ©Pixar
2. It's a Heartfelt Story about Loneliness
Pixar is known for its movies with emotional depth that explore deeper themes. Elio is no different, offering powerful lessons about family and friendship.
The film's title character is a young boy grieving after the tragic death of his parents. He walks alone through the (fictitious) Montez Air and Space Museum, watching quietly as other kids laugh and explore with their parents. He wants to go back in time to the days when his family was whole, but he cannot. His grief has led to withdrawal and outbursts against potential friends, who respond by bullying him and driving him further into a shell of isolation. He befriends an alien his age and, in the process, realizes that he didn't have it so bad back home -- and discovers that he can make friends.
Similarly, Aunt Olga is trying to find her place in life following a tragedy that redirected her life and forced her to raise a child before she even had met a spouse. She's still grieving, too, from the death of her brother and sister-in-law -- Elio's parents -- a moment that made her, too, feel alone.
Toward the end of the film, Elio is offered a chance to live with his new friends within the Communiverse but instead opts for Earth, acknowledging it's his home and that he did not give his aunt a legitimate shot the first time. (Lord Grigon and his son Gordon also reconcile.)
The film ends with Elio and Aunt Olga holding hands as we hear Carl Sagan pose a timeless question: Are we alone? The meaning is clear: Elio had searched from one end of the galaxy to the other for a true friend when -- all along -- he had someone who cared deeply within his new home. He was not alone. Aunt Olga, too, has a new sense of purpose. Maybe her life isn't what she originally envisioned, but life rarely is. Perhaps with Elio in her life -- and with a little hard work and perseverance -- it can be even better than she thought it could be.
Too often, we search far and wide for fulfillment when the greatest blessings in life are right in front of us.
Photo Credit: ©Pixar
3. It Will Raise a Few Heady Questions
Alien themes are common in children's films, but Elio pushes the question of extraterrestrial life further than most.
"There's 500 million habitable planets out there!" Elio tells his aunt.
Sagan was an outspoken advocate for the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and we hear his voice throughout the film, including in the film's final seconds.
"The search for life elsewhere is remarkable in our age because this is the first time that we can actually do something besides speculation," he says. "We can send spacecraft to nearby planets. You can use large radio telescopes to see if there is any message being sent to us. And it touches to the deepest of human concerns. Are we alone?"
Of course, Sagan's words have a double meaning here -- Elio and Aunt Olga were not alone -- and yet, many children will leave the theater with out-of-this world questions about extraterrestrial life. How should Christian parents respond? The church has often been divided on this issue, but there is a good argument -- both biblically and philosophically -- that we are, indeed, alone in the universe. Scripture presents humanity as uniquely made in God's image (Genesis 1:27) and the sole focus of Christ's redemptive work (John 3:16, Romans 5:12–19). Supporters of extraterrestrial life often point to the universe's immense scale -- arguing that with so many stars and planets, life elsewhere seems inevitable. But that idea can miss a bigger point: maybe the universe isn't vast because it's full of life, but because it's meant to show us how big and powerful its Creator is. The size itself might be the message, meant to inspire wonder, not hint at other worlds.
Elio includes no coarse language, no sexuality, and only minimal violence. (We see a bully punch Elio.)
In a Hollywood world filled with remakes and recycled ideas, Elio is a fun and refreshingly original adventure that delivers heart, humor, and meaningful lessons for families -- even if it does raise a few potentially unwelcomed, heady questions along the way.
Rated PG for some action/peril and thematic elements.
Entertainment rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Family-friendly rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Discussion Questions for Families:
- Elio and his aunt had overlooked obvious blessings in their lives -- what blessings are you overlooking?
- Is there someone in your life that you could befriend -- someone who might be feeling left out, lonely, or misunderstood?
- Elio searched the galaxy for connection but ultimately found what he needed back home -- why do you think we sometimes overlook the blessings and people God has already placed in our lives?
Photo Credit: ©Pixar
