This is a space adventure that works to find meaning. Elio has a variety of hurdles which made me feel like I was continuously trying to establish connection. Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, and Domee Shi are all directors of Elio. Their new approach to animation made for some Toy Story moments especially given the space focus. Overall, it is full of steady, family-friendly grandeur even though the pacing has components that are lacking in fulfillment.

The film is about a young boy named Elio (voiced by Yonas Kibreab), who is fascinated with space. He keeps thinking that he must go to space. However, he finds himself in a mode of disconnect. His aunt Olga Solis (voiced by Zoe Saldana) is trying her best to make life easier and joyful for him. Although he is prone to outbursts, Elio is creative at utilizing smart tactics to find his way into space. Unfortunately, reality throws many obstacles in his path which make it challenging to make his dreams come true.

On the positive side, there are space resources available to Elio, because his aunt works in NASA-type operations. Elio is just too young to take full advantage. The foundation of the story is about trying to fulfill a dream which keeps the love of family front and center in the film. Slowly, some fun things begin to evolve. For example, Elio sits on the beach and writes the wordsin the sand, “ALIENS ABDUCT ME!”  Negative thoughts aboutthe planet paint a clear portrait in Elio but deep down it is part of the adventure in this film.

The dream eventually comes true in Elio. Yet, he finds himself in a galaxy which is much more stressful than he expected. Still, at the same time he is captivated. Elio finds himself with new missions and an alien friend named Glordon (voiced by Remy Edgerly). The galaxies create a surreal landscape that keeps audiences feeling the fun in Elio.

There is an enemy in the story named Lord Grigon (voiced by Brad Garrett). This character is a major component in the Toy Story feel mentioned above. In Toy Story 2, the world of the franchise goes to new depths when Zurg the enemy of Buzz Lightyear comes in. In many ways, this addition felt more meaningful to the continuity of the story. There is well intendedmeaning in Elio, but the reality of what is happening between earth and the galaxies struggle to find common ground.

Overall, I felt the movie had many missed opportunities to feel different or mesmerizing. In some scenes it succeeds, but some of the background seems jaded. Often the animations looked rushed, and the writing seemed predictable. All around the galaxies, the film struggles to find its way to a massive homecoming which would have marked a significant achievement. This is one of those films where my star rating is a challenge. While I really wanted to be enthralled by this movie, it just didn’t deliver as expected. Two out of four stars for Elio.

 

Aloha times five! Lilo & Stitch is a joyful ride that provides fun for the whole family. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, I felt so much nostalgia from the animated version of this movie. The adventures of friendship and positivity to be found in moments of suspense make Lilo & Stitch feel special. To go right into the plot, the film focuses on Experiment 626 aka Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders). Stitch is a little blue alien that has run away from Pleakley (played by Billy Magnusson) and Jumba (played byZach Galifianakis). Stitch has landed on Earth and be-friends Lilo (played by Maia Kealoha). Lilo is a young girl living alone with her sister Nani (played by Sydney Agudong). Their sibling relationship is filled with love and some complexities. Stitch and Lilo are inseparable, but can they deal with the crazy dangers that Stitch has brought to the planet?

The film is boisterous with Stitch pretending to be a dog. His infectious energy causes both kids and adults to laugh. I love this real-person adaptation because it is so authentic and true to the animated version from 2002. There are so many smiles, happy places, lots of sun, and plenty of waves. The Hawaiian setting perfectly highlights the adventures of this family. Because the detectives assume Stitch is a threat, hiding the obvious becomes more challenging. It also fuels the motives for sticking together as a family. The one spy that creates a dark brand of humor is Cobra Bubbles (played by Courtney B. Vance). Given his detective instincts, he knows there are fishy aspects going on with Stitch, Lilo, and Nani. The many ways to hide lead to lots of suspenseful moments and a sore belly from all the laughs. Lilo & Stitch is simply wonderful. 

With all the highs for Lilo connected to friendship, and Nani trying to adapt to Stitch, the theme of “Ohana” hit hard and touched me. The saying goes, “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” That term frequently comes to my mind thanks to Lilo & Stitch. It reminds me to remember to think about others and makes me think about my own family. For example, even though Stitch drives Nani crazy, she tolerates him because he is part of their “family.” Watching the film again filled me with memories of my younger sister who learned to surf during a beach vacation in Hawaii. While I am not a surfer, we loved watching the animated version of Lilo & Stitch when we were kids. I was reminded of her fascination with surfing and other special childhood memories while watching this new version.

I loved everything about Lilo & Stitch from the many ways it promotes happiness to the theme of doing what is right. It is an extremely well-done movie with an engaging vibe. It is an enjoyable ride of family and connection that will make hearts explode with empathy. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Lilo & Stitch.