"Elemental" Review: This isn't Pixar's Best

Animation can be a great storytelling tool! When done well, filmmakers can use the genre to express emotions and show things that can’t be done in live-action. With “Elemental”, the ambiguity of anthropomorphism makes for a confusing story, weird relationships and complex storytelling that should otherwise be simple. 

Set in a place called Elemental City, the inhabitants consist of fire, wind, earth and water people. Fire is the one element that is somewhat ostracized due to their ability to destroy most elements. Ember (Leah Lewis) is a second generation fire element of the city. Her father (Ronnie Del Carmen) has worked hard to keep his store, The Fireplace, up and running. His goal is to pass it on to Ember. Ember is stuck between wanting to honor her father’s wishes and wanting to find out what she loves. The frustration of being stuck in the middle produces an uncontrollable fireball that Ember has to release. On one such occasion, she retreats to the basement to blow off steam only to have Wade (Mamoudou Athie) come through a leaky pipe. Wade is a city inspector who can’t let the violations he sees in the basement go. So the rest of the film is about the shenanigans this odd couple gets into as Ember tries to save her dad’s shop from being shut down. 

There are clear rules in this world. Fire can boil water, water can replenish Earth, water can also douse a flame, etc. So a romantic relationship between fire and water shouldn’t work. Pixar is usually known for being able to mix social messages with their films but there are a few too many messages going on here. There is a generational understanding issue, a xenophobia issue, a class issue, and frankly, an ethnicity issue. Ember’s parents seem to have an Asian accent and exhibit the traditional values of an Asian family. (This is based on director, Peter Sohn’s, life.) So rather than focusing on the elements being blank canvases without intricate human qualities, dealing with universal problems, this feels like the elements are geared after a certain group of people. This is fine when you make clear lines, but the anthropomorphism makes it hazy. There are too many things that writers John Hoberg, Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh are trying to tackle. Children won’t care but adults will scratch their heads.

This does feel like new territory for Pixar as the relationship between Ember and Wade feels like young adults falling in love. It’s hard to know their age, but context clues put this in unchartered territory. Perhaps the best part of the film is the visuals that are served to the audience. In fact, the song “Steal The Show” by Ari Leff and Thomas Newman does just that in a beautiful montage of Ember and Wade seeing each other’s uniqueness against the backdrop of Elemental City. It’s a great number and captures what Pixar does best.

This isn’t Pixar’s best in their catalogue. Outside of the song, this isn’t very memorable and leaves a few more questions than answers. Yet, there are moments of Pixar brilliance. No need to rush out for this one parents.

Rating: C