Heart-warming watch and not another live-action remake

Film review: Elio (PG) - showing at Wisbech cinemas The Light and The Luxe

Voice cast: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Remy Edgerly and Brad Garrett

Run time: One hour, 38 minutes Directors: Madeleine Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina

It’s such a shame that original animations struggle to make the big box-office bucks nowadays.

Case in point is this new animation from Disney/Pixar, that despite being a heartwarming sci-fi adventure, just hasn’t gained the traction of established franchises in their pantheon – if the opening weekend take is anything to go by.

This enchanting tale of cosmic misadventure involves misunderstood young boy Elio (Yonas Kibreab) – still grieving the death of his parents – who has been taken in by his Air Force major Aunt, Olga (Avatar’s Zoe Saldana).

As a form of escapism, Elio is amazed by the idea of discovering life in outer space, and goes to the beach every day, pleading to be abducted by aliens.

Then one day his dream becomes reality, when he sends a call out to the stars via Olga’s workplace, and he’s beamed up to an interplanetary colony, being mistaken for the leader of Earth.

Here he becomes ambassador for his new home and has to help convince alien warlord Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett) not to attack the colony, as part of the deal so he can stay in space, while making friends with his adorable son Glordon (Remy Edgerly) in the process.

It’s definitely simplistic paint-by-numbers stuff set to a breathtaking galactic backdrop – think Disney crossed with NASA – but its warm, emotional underbelly makes this another worthy entry in the Pixar canon.

It’s just such a shame that families will generally go for live-action remakes and sequels ahead of this, because films like Elio then don’t receive the kudos they absolutely deserve.

Rating: 4/5

By Gavin Miller