Elio is one of the quietly released movies this year, I don't recall it having an extreme marketing push. Disney seemed to not care whether this movie succeeded or failed, because we all know they have the funds for a good marketing campaign, they just chose not to. That said few people knew this movie was even being released, and even less people actually saw it in theaters. However box office return is the last indicator of movie quality so here we are.
It is definitely a Disney movie because Elio is an orphan, he's being raised by his aunt. After losing his parents he feels alone, he wanders into a planetarium and learns about the satellite voyager he then makes it his mission to get abducted by aliens. This poor baby clearly spends a lot of time by himself.
When he does finally get abducted by aliens, he is elated. He really doesn’t feel connected to anything on earth, after his parents died he really didn’t have anyone. His aunt is in the military and often leaves him home alone, he didn’t have anyone to hold him down. So they have my emotional attention immediately.
He is then presented with his only option to stay in space is to talk a violent warlord out of wanting to be a part of the communiverse. So now this child is on an expedition across space.
Meanwhile a little Elio clone is on earth with his aunt.
Elio gets himself captured and jailed, but he does so with the warlord's son. He uses his son as a fake bargaining chip and gets exactly what he wants. And in their little escape he actually bonds with this sweet little alien baby. He finally finds a friend. In doing so he starts to think that earth isn’t the issue. That maybe HE is the reason that he doesn’t have any friends. Which is a horrible, heartbreaking thought for any child to have.
These two little friends help each other realize who they are and what they really want. This poor little alien baby comes from a race of warriors, but he doesn’t want to fight and kill, he just wants to play. I do love that Pixar and Disney have been really heavy handed with the overcoming parental expectations stories.
When Elio checks on his clone he sees him fitting into earth better than real him ever did. He and his aunt are bonding and connecting in a way that he never could. This really solidifies his need to not go back to earth.
His aunt figures out that the Elio she has is not really her nephew. At the same time the communiverse realizes that this child is in fact, not the leader of earth. Elio gets this entire federation captured by this warlord alien race. And he gets thrown back to earth. Like literally they just dropped him in the ocean.
Elio and his aunt are reunited and I think he finally realizes how much she loves and cares about him. The climax of the movie involves the two working to get Elio’s little alien friend back to space. The kindness that Elio shows the alien kid leads to the warlord literally breaking out of his shell in order to connect with his son. It's a really sweet moment.
Unique can sometimes feel like alone is a great line.
This movie never had its moment due to piss poor marketing but it is actually a very sweet film. Its plot and character development were extremely well done. The dialogue was funny and perfectly fitting for an adolescent boy. And it's just an honest movie and it was very true to its intentions. It is definitely one of those kids movies that gives the adults a lot to think about as well and I think those are the best kinds of family films, ones that actually give something to the whole family regardless of age or demographic.
About the Creator
Alexandrea Callaghan
Certified nerd, super geek and very proud fangirl.
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