Well, everyone, today, after taking a temporary break from Indiana Jones, we are going into the world of animation for this review, and the next one. For this animated film, we will be going into the legendary world of Disney/Pixar. Now, before I go on, I’d like to say a little something. As I’m sure especially many of us animation fans are aware, Disney/Pixar decided to release at least most of their original films from 2020 onwards straight to Disney+, rather than letting them have their films have a theatrical experience first. That is since the COVID was a bigger issue then. Like what, films such as Soul, Luca, and Turning Red all got the straight to streaming treatment. And even Onward got taken out of theaters, and straight to that streaming service when theater companies were forced to close their doors to avoid the spread of COVID (despite many people dying from the disease anyway). Yes, last year’s Lightyear got the theater experience. So that was nice. Now, three years after COVID became a huge threat to the US, and other places in the world, Disney/Pixar’s latest film, Elemental, has gotten the chance to have the theatrical experience before DVD/Blu-Ray, and Disney+. Was it worth it? Let’s find out by talking about Elemental, shall we?
Plot: Set in a fictional city called Elemental City, where characters are made up of any of the four elements, be it earth, fire, water, or air, two fire element immigrants named Bernie, and Cindy Lumen (Ronnie Del Carmen, and Shila Omni respectively) immigrate to the city, and develop a fire shop. After bearing their new daughter, Ember (played by Clara Lin Ding as child Ember, Reagan To as teenage Ember, and Leah Lewis as adult Ember), they decide to make a fire business, and have Ember take over the business. One day, when a leak occurs that ruins their ship underground, Ember must team up with a city inspector, who’s made of water, named Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Aggie) to find out where the water leak is coming from. Can they find the source, and save, Ember, and her parent’s business before it’s too late?
Now, as many of us know, Elemental has only been moderately successful at the box office during it’s theatrical run. In fact, out of the film’s $200 million budget, Elemental has only made $113 million domestically, and an additional $114.2 million internationally, adding up to $257.5 million worldwide. That being said, is Elemental that bad, or has it just not gotten enough positive word-of-mouth? Well, let me put it to you all this way. For being the first Disney/Pixar original film to come to the big screen since 2020’s Onward, it was still very good, but could have been better in some aspects. Let me explain! First of all, the world building could have likely been improved upon. Elemental City basically is almost like the world of Zootopia from the Disney film of that name. However, unlike Zootopia, while the world building was still adequate in this film, we could have maybe seen a little bit more of each of the four areas. Oh, don’t get me wrong, we still do get a taste of the four worlds. Still, it probably could have been better. Not only could this film have gone through maybe an additional draft, or two to fix that, but there were some minor characters that should have been cut from the film, most notably a kid from the Dirt district named Clod, who seemed to act a little creepy at times in this film. I just think that if he, and a few other unnecessary characters had been cut from the film, we would have gotten to see some additional characters more fleshed out. Thankfully, since Ember, Wade, and Ember’s parents are the main stars of this film, we at least get to see them shine, but still. The film could have also maybe had a little more comedy. Okay, okay, we do get to see some funny moments throughout this film. Even then, some of the jokes could have landed better, and been better executed. Additionally, there were a couple plot holes that should have been elaborated on, especially in couple instances in this film. Finally, there were a couple mystic mumbo jumbo moments in this film that made this film feel a little weird as well.
But again, since those are the only flaws for this film, the film is still overall enjoyable. To begin, there is the animation. Wow, Disney/Pixar went to a whole new level with this animation. I mean yes, the facial expressions, and things like that are just as great as in other Disney/Pixar films. The character designs were very much different from those of previous Disney/Pixar films too. I mean they hardly, if at all, look like plastic toys like they have in previous films, be it the Toy Story films, A Bug’s Life, Up, and most of those films from that company. Granted one of the main differences between those films, and this one is that there aren’t any human beings, and our characters are made up of one of the four elements. So maybe that’s why, I suppose. Well, regardless the upgrade of the characters works beautifully for a film like this one. They also made the character from Firetown actually look like fire, those of Watertown actually look like water, and so on, and so forth. You can tell the animators were trying their best to work on making character designs look the best that they can be. As for the animation of the world, yes, though the world building could have improved, the animation of the objects, the ground, and more is also really great. Next, there is the score by Thomas Newman, who of course is the cousin of Randy Newman (who composed the score for many of Disney/Pixar’s films). This is the fourth time that he’s composed for Disney/Pixar, following Finding Nemo (2003), WALL-E (2008), and Finding Dory (2016), and surprisingly quite a few live-action films. Though is score may not be quite up there with the previous Disney/Pixar films that he’s composed for, it is still really beautiful. I mean the way that he uses different instruments, be it some of the more tragic moments, or any of the more fun, and upbeat moments, it is so phenomenal how his music is played this time around. Though he probably won’t get nominated for Best Original Score, he should, if not win that. Don’t believe me!?! See this film, and see what you think! There’s also a very good song called “Steal The Show.” Not quite the best song, but still a good one nonetheless. The four main characters, Ember, Wade, and Ember’s parents are all really fleshed out as well. Even Wade’s parents get some time to shine, especially with helping with the arcs of some of the other main characters in this film. Additionally, even if most of the secondary characters could have either been more developed, or cut out altogether, the main ones still get their time to shine. Because of this, there is still a very good amount of heart into this film, and the storyline, despite the fact both aspects could have improved. As for the jokes, though a lot of those fell flat, there were others that worked very well. It was one of those hit, and miss situations, you know? Finally, there are some really great lessons to take away from this film such as not trying to be something you’re not, or what others want you to be. There are times where this film serves as a great reminder that it’s better to be yourself. Yes, that lesson has been done in the past before (Aladdin anyone?). However, the way that it’s handled before is surprisingly really well executed.
And that’s my review for Disney/Pixar’s Elemental. Even though it could have been better, Elemental serves as proof that the company still has magic left. Yes, Elemental was a little more mature than your typical Disney/Pixar film (which may have been both a benefit, and a negative). There could have been one, or two more draft updates to make this film better. Still, for what it is, it is still worth seeing, and helps prove that Disney/Pixar can make a good, if not quite great film. So, if you want to see a Disney/Pixar film that maybe more adults may enjoy, and kids can still enjoy too, that has a good song, and score, really phenomenal, and unique animation, and things like those, and all the more reason to give this film a chance. So, definitely go see Elemental, if you haven’t, and still want to. And see it with an open mind. Do not listen to the naysayers, even if this film could have been better in some aspects. Just see it, see what you think, and form your OWN opinion. That is especially since Elemental is proof that, first of all, Disney/Pixar still has magic left, and, two, the company can still make good, or even great films. Oh, and when the end credits are over, PLEASE DO BIT LEAVE THE MOVIE THEATER RIGHT AWAY. Why? Well, because after the credits, there is a tribute that Peter Sohn, the director of this film (and also directed the 2015 Disney/Pixar film The Good Dinosaur), makes to his parents, as this film was more of a tribute to him, his parents, and likely the rest of his family. So, if you want to see that tribute he makes, then make sure you stay through the end credits.
Final Grade: B-
P.S. Oh, and one more thing! Before Elemental shows, there is a short film that plays before it called Carl’s Date. Yes, I mean that shirt has Carl, and Doug the dog from Disney/Pixar’s Up returning for this short film. So, if you’re not as much of a fan of Elemental for one reason, or another, then hopefully you’ll at least like the short film, Carl’s Date.
Matthew’s Animated & Live-Action Movie Reviews 