Directed by Pixar veteran Peter Sohn with a script by John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, and Brenda Hsueh, Elemental is as gorgeous as audiences have come to expect from the animation studio. But the craft behind Pixar's films has only ever been part of the formula to their greatest successes. A deft melding of creative world-building and a compelling human story are the other keys to the best stories from the studio, even when the main characters are far from human.
While Elemental is lacking in the former, its emotional throughline is a well-executed and occasionally powerful tale of a first-generation immigrant falling in love with someone society says she shouldn't be with. Elemental is impressive, stirring, and absolutely gorgeous, but a little more character complexity and fewer gags would have made it even more special.
Elemental takes place in the fantastical world of Element City, home to four kinds of anthropomorphic natural elements. The city is divided by class and race, with the more established and typically wealthier water citizens enjoying a far easier life than the growing population of fire immigrants from Fireland. Ember (Leah Lewis), a first-generation citizen of the city, works in the small shop owned by her father, Bernie (Ronnie del Carmen), and mother, Cinder (Shila Ommai). Trying to make the most of the sacrifices her parents made to raise her in the city, Ember's temper is the only thing keeping her from inheriting her aging father's shop, which would allow him to retire. When irregularities in the piping system threaten the business, Ember is forced to work alongside the emotional and big-hearted city inspector, Wade (Mamoudou Athie), to try and keep it open.
At first, it seems like Elemental is setting the stage for a rom-com. Efforts to discover the source of the problem and attempts to convince Wade's boss to help are very gag-heavy, leaning into the playful and often punny touches of Element City. The problem is that it feels too reminiscent of Zootopia. It's a familiar approach that risks overtaking the focus of the film.
The first act seems to be building to a more basic investigation into the source of the problem and the complications that arise as they dig deeper. But all that fades away in the second act, as the film becomes a much more straightforward and focused love story between two people from very different backgrounds. There's no real antagonist to the film, just the limitations the main characters put on themselves and others. This is when Elemental becomes far more compelling. Lewis and Athie deliver strong performances, and the stylized approach to the character designs allows for a real fluidity of emotion and character -- giving its specific story a universal feel without losing any of that powerful cultural authenticity.
Elemental touches on social divides and racial tension but doesn't make the plot about that. It highlights the challenges faced by people in a divided world and uses them to propel the characters' emotional arcs. It doesn't fix any of society's problems, but Elemental highlights the challenges they present and the importance of overcoming them. Elemental is ultimately about two people who know the drama that can be caused by their romance but can't stop wondering what's stopping them from trying. This throughline is clear and emotionally resonant, coupled with a touch of generational pressure, played with a deft and human touch. It's in this romance -- particularly an underwater date between the two and the resulting conversation about their potential compatibility -- where the film really touches on its true potential.
Unfortunately, minor distractions detract from the elements of Elemental that really work. The film's best moments are genuinely stirring, romantic, and bittersweet as it's all brought to life with visual creativity to match. But the simple, more gag-heavy aspects distract and draw attention away from the central appeal of the film. Less time spent on thinly-veiled fart jokes could have allowed room for further crystallization of Ember's passions, and fewer gags about random citizens could have made room for the filmmakers to provide a fuller picture of Wade. When Elemental actually explores the complex realities of a romance crossing so many boundaries, it elevates to the best of Pixar's recent films -- easily on par with the stinging vulnerability of Luca or the lovable authenticity of Turning Red. While a few stumbles may keep it from joining the ranks of the studio's most legendary output, Elemental is still a visually stunning piece that explores the classic immigrant story with love and joy.
Elemental comes to theaters on June 16.