He was a boy. She was a girl. Can I make it anymore obvious. He was water. And she was fire. What more can I say?
Set in a city where the elements — earth, air, water and fire — live together, Disney and Pixar take the timeless romantic comedy trope of “opposites attract” to a new level in “Elemental.”
One of the more clever original stories to come from Pixar in recent years, “Elemental” is a sweet love story filled with joyous and emotional moments that only Pixar could create. The animation dazzles, as per usual, finding effortless beauty in the quiet moments. I loved the character design and Pixar’s staple attention to detail in their world building.
Although the formulaic star-crossed lovers storyline felt predictable, it is the film’s homage to immigrant families and their difficult journey to make a better life that adds depth to the film — specifically when the journey is shared from the lens of the child, who feels the pressure from her parents to honor their sacrifices.
This is probably the part that is losing kids (and maybe some adults) from completely enjoying “Elemental” as much as “Toy Story,” however it is what makes the story so much richer than your run of the mill “kids movie.”
And yes. The love story is STINKIN’ adorable. The puns and comedy are enjoyable. It warmed up my icy heart and made my boyfriend tear up like Wade Ripples himself.
Between the vibrant animation and charming original story, this is the most “classic” Pixar experience we have had in a while. And it’s damn good to have them back on the big screen.
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