A Little Boy, a Big Universe, and Why You Should Watch Elio”
Hey Mia,
You know how we always talk about movies that feel like they were made for us? Those ones that sneak up on you — you walk in expecting some harmless fun, and by the time you leave, you’ve got that weird ache in your chest because somehow a silly cartoon about aliens ended up saying exactly what you needed to hear?
Well, Elio did that to me last night.
I wasn’t planning to get emotional over a Pixar film about a kid getting abducted by a bunch of glow-in-the-dark space diplomats. I mean, you hear that pitch and you’re expecting slapstick and gooey monsters making fart jokes (there are a few, don’t worry). But somewhere in between the neon galaxies and bizarre alien council meetings, Elio managed to land a direct hit to the part of my heart that still remembers what it was like to be 11 and feel weird and out of place in my own skin.
The story’s simple in the best way. Elio Solis is this artsy, shy kid whose mom works for some top-secret government space project. One accidental call later, he’s whisked off to a galactic assembly where he’s mistaken for Earth’s official ambassador. Classic mix-up. But what makes it special is that Elio isn’t suddenly a superhero or a genius negotiator. He’s just a kid, scared and confused, doing his best to figure it out. And watching him stumble through it, I realized how rare it is for a movie — especially an animated one — to let a character stay vulnerable without making them the joke.
Visually, it’s gorgeous. I mean, you’d expect that from Pixar, but this one feels extra alive. The alien council alone is worth the ticket. Every creature’s got its own weird, beautiful thing going on, and the color work in this movie is insane. Warm golds on Earth, deep purples and pinks in space — it’s like watching a dream you don’t want to wake up from.
Also: the soundtrack. Mia, the main theme? Absolute magic. Swells at just the right moments. It’s one of those scores that you don’t notice at first, then suddenly you realize it’s doing half the emotional heavy lifting.
Now, it’s not perfect. Some of the humor leans very kid-friendly, which makes sense but might wear a little thin for folks hoping for something sharper. And there’s a stretch in the middle that drifts a bit before it finds its footing again. But honestly? None of that really matters, because the heart of this thing is so strong.
The relationship between Elio and his mom is lowkey one of the best parts. It’s complicated and tender and a little messy — like real relationships are. They love each other in that imperfect, slightly awkward way where neither of them quite knows how to say the right thing, but they keep trying anyway.
When it was over, the credits rolled, and I just sat there. You know that feeling when a story leaves you a little softer, like it managed to sand down some of the rough edges you didn’t realize you were carrying? That was Elio.
I think you’d love it. Not just because of the aliens and the starships (though those are awesome too), but because it’s a story about finding your voice, even if it trembles. About how bravery isn’t about being loud or bold, but about showing up anyway.
And yeah — about belonging. About how, sometimes, it takes the whole universe getting it wrong before you realize you’ve been enough all along.
If you go see it this weekend, text me after. I want to hear what you think.
Screenshots
