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Pixar has been synonymous with groundbreaking and breathtaking animation for years. They changed the animation game with "Toy Story," and left us speechless with the beauty of "Coco." But for me, it hasn't been the stunning CGI that sets Pixar apart; it's been their storytelling.
For years, I felt that Pixar focused on making a story perfect before even creating characters.
Movies like "Inside Out," Monsters Inc.," "Finding Nemo," "Up" and the aforementioned "Coco" have close-to-perfect stories for me. They are funny, with deep character development, high stakes and emotion. Pixar has had some missteps in this category, in my opinion, like both "Cars" sequels — and don't even get me started on "Turning Red."
Pixar's newest film, "Elemental," falls short of an animated masterpiece. Still, it's also better than the likes of "Cars 2" and "Turning Red."
Here are some reasons I enjoyed "Elemental."
The good
Stunning visuals
Even in their missteps, Pixar has turned out beautiful animation, and nothing is different with "Elemental." In fact, it may be some of their best animation work to date.
The bustling city has a heartbeat you can feel in your chest, and I cannot imagine the number of painstaking hours it took the animation teams to create all the characters. The water is fluid, the earth is growing, the air flowing and the fire constantly burning. I wanted to step into this world and explore it for hours. The intricate architecture and bright lights are mesmerizing.
I have always been impressed with animation in all forms, but "Elemental" had me in awe.
The voices of Mamoudou Athie and Leah Lewis
Animated movies often like to get big-name actors to voice the lead roles, but "Elemental" didn't go that route. My guess is most of you don't recognize the names of Mamoudou Athie and Leah Lewis, but you may see them and think, "Oh, she's from that one thing."
These two voice the lead characters, Wade and Ember, respectively, and their chemistry and timing are on point. Athie found the right mixture of charming and obnoxious in his delivery, which is precisely Wade's personality. Lewis delivers a tough exterior that is actually razor-thin, hiding a vulnerable and unsure center. The two play off one another like two tennis pros, lobbing shots back and forth.
The middle ground
Hits and misses in the story
As mentioned earlier, Pixar has crafted some incredible stories, and I feel "Elemental" got about halfway there. The story didn't necessarily bore me, but it lost my attention a few times. The relationship between Wade and Ember is strong, if a little rushed. The secondary story — of a water leak — seems forgotten and rushed, even though it's a significant plot line.
I've probably come to expect too much by way of a story from Pixar, because "Elemental" is more substantial than many animated movies out there. It just seemed to have too many holes compared to some of the studio's best.
Conclusion
"Elemental" was not my favorite Pixar movie, and it's not even in my top five or six, but it's also not toward the bottom of the barrel. I had fun with the movie and walked out of the theater with a smile and a good feeling. But are you that interested in what a middle-aged movie critic says about it? Or would you be more interested in what a 12-, 10- and 7-year-old thought about the movie?
My three kids joined me at the screening, and they were all in. My oldest daughter loved the relationships, my son thought the jokes were funny and my youngest daughter immediately asked when we could see it again. Kids should have a great time with the dazzling visuals and well-timed humor, and parents should be entertained enough to not look at their watch waiting for the time to pass.
"Elemental" is rated PG for some peril, thematic elements and brief language.
