Jul 31, 20232 min read

FILM REVIEW: ELEMENTAL (PG) ESP RATING: 4/5

Pixar still prove they’re in their element when it comes to animation ingenuity.

Their stock may have gone down somewhat after three out of their previous four releases went straight to Disney Plus – thus not receiving the usual cinematic audience and potential award recognition for the likes of the still very-laudable Luca, Soul and Turning Red.

But it was arguably Pixar’s seemingly sure-bet Lightyear being an underwhelming misfire that sent shockwaves through the genre. Were the computer-generated animation pioneers starting to come unglued?

Fortunately, with Elemental, there’s a welcome return to cinematic form.

With an amiable cast, catchy soundtrack and noteworthy story, this is heartwarming stuff – even if it’s a bit of a slow burn.

Off the bat, this isn’t Inside Out 2. A lot of people think it’s a sequel to that – as the animation looks similar – but the follow-up to the 2015 film is out next year.

What is refreshing is this doesn’t even have an A-list star to steer it.

In Element City, fire, water, earth and air residents live side-by-side, with feisty young woman Ember (Leah Lewis) – the daughter of Fire immigrants Bernie (Ronnie del Carmen) and Cinder Lumen (Shila Omni) – about to take over the family store. Once she can control her fiery temper that is.

But when she’s left to run the shop by herself in a ‘rites of passage’ test by her father, she gets overwhelmed by the customers and loses control – running to the basement and bursting the water pipes due to her blazing rage.

This ‘summons’ a go-with-the-flow water element in the form of inspector Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie), who reluctantly has to report the faulty pipework and consequential flooding to the City Hall – which puts the store in imminent danger of closure.

Leaving her ‘Fire’ neighbourhood for the first time, Ember trails Wade to the capital in an attempt to stop him reporting the violation – but ends up being too late.

But Wade is then sympathetic to her predicament, and aims to help her try and get it overturned – thus forming the start of a burgeoning friendship.

With several nice plot twists along the way, the chemistry between Ember/Wade becomes a pleasantly intriguing central story – which evolves into a rewarding and uplifting adventure by the close. Accompanied with the excellent aforementioned musical score.

It doesn’t move the animated ‘needle’ in quite the same way that some of Pixar’s earlier efforts did, but is undoubtedly a positive move in the right direction to keep those naysayers baying for Disney/Pixar blood at bay.

This may be straightforward and uncomplicated fare – but shows they’re still undoubtedly the masters of their craft.

ESP Rating: 4/5

Gavin Miller