Movie Review: Elio

The latest feature from Pixar, entitled Elio, is the story of a young boy (Yonas Kibreab) who is obsessed with space and travelling to distant worlds. Elio lives with his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña), following the death of his parents some years earlier. Olga was a rising star in the space program until she had to put her career on hold to care for Elio. Now, Elio and Olga feel simultaneously frustrated with what each of their lives have become. Elio, for his part, dreams of getting away to somehow live life on his own terms. So, when the opportunity to leave the confines of Earth to travel the stars presents itself (or rather, Elio inserts himself into that plan), he is all too eager to leave the only family he has left behind and head for the stars.

What follows is a heart-warming tale of someone coming to the realization that what they have may not be so bad after all and that family could just be the binding force of the universe.

The directing trio of Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina work deftly through the screenplay courtesy of Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, and Mike Jones to tell a remarkably tight and economical story given so many involved in the creation. Although this is one of those tales wherein the viewer may be well aware of how it is going to end up, the characters and the situations they are thrust into are depicted so well that the emotional impact of what unfolds onscreen is hard to shake or get through without feeling something.

As with other Pixar films, the visuals are absolutely gorgeous. It is here that Harley Jessup’s production design work takes center stage. But, as with all other films from this studio, it proves to be the performances of the central characters that separate the film from other standard fare. As Elio, Yonas Kibreab proves to be a more than capable central anchor to the film. He is both likable and makes his struggle relatable at the same time. Likewise, Zoe Saldaña’s work as Aunt Olga is equally sympathetic and challenging as she, like Elio, exists as both pro- and antagonist to their counterpart. Additional supporting characters, particularly Glordon (Remy Edgerly) and his father Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), manage to infuse the second-tier characters with the same depth and likeability as Elio as Olga are afforded.

One of the finer touches within the film is the use of the late Carl Sagan’s voice to explain the purpose and contents of the Voyager space probe project. This turns out to be a seminal moment in Elio’s life that leads him down his path of learning and discovery.

Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in “Elio.” Photo © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

While Elio may not be the typical story many are accustomed to seeing from Pixar, it is certainly one whose scope is most definitely within the milieu of the studio. At the heart of Elio is the story of someone seeking for something to give themselves purpose and help them make sense of the world around them. That, it turns out, is the essence of the human condition and something everyone can relate to.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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