[Rating: Rock Fist Way Up]
Since COVID pushed movies more into people’s homes than ever before, Disney (why is it always them?) made a huge blunder, in my opinion, by not putting many of their newer Pixar films in theaters for families to enjoy. Finally, however, they are getting back into the groove to bring families and audiences back with their fresh stories of new characters and ideas.
The latest film to join the Pixar family is Elemental (directed by Peter Sohn of The Good Dinosaur fame) and it is one of the best they have had to offer in years.
Bernie Lumen (Ronnie del Carmen – a story artist on many of Pixar’s films) and his wife Cinder (Shila Ommi) are two fire elements who move from their own world to Elemental city. They are immigrants to a world that wasn’t built for fire people and so, they have to create their own community to grow and thrive. Eventually, they start a family with the birth of Ember (Leah Lewis). Ember is tough and stubborn, but knows that she has to make her father proud to trust her to run his shop. She must carry on a legacy built by her father. Her biggest problem is controlling her temper. She’s a hot head.
During one of her legendary outbursts, she literally busts a pipe in the basement, sending water into the building. Within the water rushes out Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie), a water element and city inspector. As emotional as he is, he also finds many faults with the building code and cites Bernie’s store. Through a series of events, Ember and Wade get help from Wade’s boss Gale Cumulus (air element Wendi McLendon-Covey) to get the shop repaired or else force Bernie to close down his shop, something he built up from his bare hands and something he wants to pass onto his daughter. Here’s the trouble though: Ember and Wade despite being fire and water start to fall for one another and realize that being together is dangerous and could lead to either of them hurting each other. But will love prevail or will the elements get the better of them?
I really do hope people give this film a chance. There are so many puns to make out of all of Elemental City and the citizens. Hell, Catherine O’Hara makes an appearance of Wade’s mother and gives us some hilarious laughter. There’s also the use of color in this film. Too many times as of late, Disney movies have been hammered with how dark they are. The vibrancy of Ember as she dances and shapes herself and the effect of water and color of Wade are downright beautiful, and they are some of the best drawn Pixar characters ever. The story itself is nice. I felt some similar elements to Zootopia in a world where others are separated based on who they are and bringing two unlikely pairs together. Kudos too to Thomas Newman’s incredible score that brings fire and water together in harmony.
Disney should still trust in Pixar to deliver incredibly moving films. Elemental has a main message here of two worlds coming together that are normally separate. It might be a bit on the nose at times, but the strong connection of Ember and Wade and Ember seeking the approval of Bernie makes this such a sweet and heartfelt concept. One could say it makes tears flow and hearts ablaze!
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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