Elemental (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – Follows Ember and Wade, in a city where fire, water, land and air-residents live together.

My Take – Who would have thought that we would see a time when Pixar, the champion of animated features for over two decades, would find themselves struggling at the box office?

Though their critically well-received films like Onward (2020), Soul (2020), Luca (2021), and Turning Red (2022) could be excused for their scattered release between Disney+ and a few theaters, particularly in countries where the streaming service is not available, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the commercial failing of last summer’s Lightyear (2022), the terrible spin off the much beloved Toy Story franchise, ended up putting a serious dent in their dream run.

The last time we saw something like this was back in 2015, with the release of The Good Dinosaur, directed by Peter Sohn. Whose latest is also unfortunately meeting a similar faith.

Not that I blame him or his co-writers John Hoberg, Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh, because this 27th CGI animated feature film from Disney-Pixar is actually quite a likable and absolutely gorgeous to look at, with some thrilling sequences, a reasonably charming romance, some great music, and contains enough sly gags to keep longtime fans entertained.

Yes, in terms of execution the film does have some of the same issues of his previous effort, and while it supplies a worthwhile lesson with unmistakable parallels to contemporary issues of race and culture, it also earns a tear or two from the endearing romance. And despite the obvious world-building, the material works, even when it’s not altogether satisfying narrative wise. It plays things relatively straight-forward complimented by the usual fantastic visuals from the studio.

Sure, it may not rank among the studio’s all-time best but it still has plenty to enjoy regardless of how you approach it. You can appreciate it simply on the merits of its great animation or for its social commentary on cultural divide. Reminding us of the incredible strength found in unity and the beauty of finding common ground in a diverse world.

Taking place in Element City, a vast metropolis inhabited by anthropomorphic elements of nature, the story follows Ember Lumen (voiced by Leah Lewis), a first generation fire elemental and daughter of immigrants Bernie (voiced by Ronnie del Carmen) and Cinder (voiced by Shila Ommi) who faced prejudice and systemic segregation to start a bodega, called The Fireplace, the unofficial hub of Firetown.

All these years, Ember has been made aware how much her family sacrificed to provide her with a better life, as a result of which she tries really hard to impress them and hopes to eventually prove herself worthy of taking over the family’s business.

But Ember also routinely struggles to keep her temper with customers and during one such episode inadvertently damages an old water pipe which pulls in Wade Ripple (voiced by Mamoudou Athie), a sappy water elemental city inspector, from the other side of town who reluctantly ends up issuing several citations on the bodega.

However, after learning of Ember’s struggles with trying to take over The Fireplace from her ailing father, Wade feeling guilty over it decides to help Ember save bodega as well as find out why there is water still running through Firetown when it shouldn’t. Eventually striking a friendship which in spite of their contrasting elemental types begins to hint towards more.

The film is primarily based off of the structure of romantic comedies and dramas such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), while also building those ideas around the core elemental one. The main conceit here is, of course, that opposites attract. But any physical contact would mean the end of them both.

Wade will boil into a cloud of vapor and Ember will be immediately extinguished. It’s a forbidden love between two people with differing backgrounds and opposing cultures. But they must find a way to love one another in spite of all the opposing forces. And though the chemistry between Ember and Wade is corny, it still works well.

With the film’s rom-com elements, such as hot air balloon rides and authentic fire food, add to its overall appeal. The film’s portrayal of how the elements interact is both amusing and touching. Whether it’s a water-being’s sneeze causing grass to sprout or Ember’s intense heat affecting others around her, these moments showcase the intricate relationships between the elemental residents. They provide a delightful blend of entertainment and insight into the film’s underlying plot.

The film’s overarching theme of xenophobia and racial prejudice makes for an interesting look at how people in the real world may view immigrants from another country. Though I appreciate the filmmakers for tackling such a serious subject matter in a way that all ages can understand, something like this has already been done before in another Disney animated film, Zootopia (2016), which dealt with themes of cultural differences in a more appealing way. While I wouldn’t necessarily call this is a bad thing, it doesn’t really feel fresh or new.

However, there is no denying that the film is a visual treat. The attention-to-detail on the atmosphere is superb, which really helps make the city look like it has been lived in for a long time. The film’s depiction of the four elements – earth, fire, water, and air – is nothing short of awe-inspiring. In addition, the film’s attention to detail is evident in every frame, and it’s hard not to be swept away by the sheer artistry on display.

Voice performance wise, both Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie are really solid as Ember and Wade and their interactions with each other are complemented with some cute moments and amusing exchanges. They are ably supported by Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Mason Wertheimer and Catherine O’Hara. On the whole, ‘Elemental’ is a sweet animated rom-com complimented by fantastic visuals and a heartfelt message.