The next Disney/Pixar movie, Elio, released on June 20th and by all accounts had dismal first weekend earnings. This can be attributed to several things, no doubt. For one, I’ve seen many complaints about the lack of marketing. I’ll be honest, I saw a decent amount of marketing for the movie, including internet ads and the trailer. But I suppose I’m not a good sample because I am chronically on the Disney+ app or watching reruns of Phineas and Ferb and The Owl House on the Disney Channel. In other words, I’m a massive Disney nerd and I always know about every single new release they have. On the other hand, apparently the average adult movie goer did not see much marketing and was barely aware what Elio was, let alone when it was releasing.

This has been a problem with a lot of media lately. Not just from Disney, though it is a major problem at Disney, which has seemed lately to be reluctant to market its Pixar releases. But its been a problem with a lot of recent productions, both film and television. I think, for instance, about a lot of Netflix releases that have come and gone almost without any notice at all. Netflix makes something, refuses to market it in the slightest, and then complains that it did not perform well. Almost as if they are trying to tank some titles.

Anyway, that is certainly a contributing factor. However, as SF author John Scalzi very effectively argued in a thread on BlueSky, this has often been the case for animated science fiction movies. Many excellent animated SF movies have underperformed in the box office through no fault of their own, for reasons I really cannot guess at.

So, for those who maybe weren’t aware this movie existed, or did not feel another underperforming Disney/Pixar movie is worth your time, let me just say: ELIO IS VERY GOOD, ACTUALLY.

I don’t always love what Disney has been doing lately, creatively or politically or economically. For instance, I’ve seen reports that Disney execs made significant last minute changes to Elio to remove a queer character. I hate that. But I’m not surprised by it. In the last few years, Disney has been backtracking the very LITTLE progress they had made in LGBTQ representation very quickly. I don’t like it, but I’m used to it. And while that frustrates me, I do not believe it takes away from the ways in which Elio was genuinely very good. It is beautifully animated, emotionally resonant, and just plain fun.

The basic premise is this: middle-schooler Elio’s parents have recently died (in an unspecified accident). Elio has gone to live with his aunt who works for the Air Force as a space debris analyst and hopes one day to join NASA. Elio is… an odd child, a quirky loner. His aunt feels overwhelmed and conflicted. He feels unwanted and alone. After sneaking into a museum exhibit about the Voyager Space Probe (narrating, to my delight, by Kate Mulgrew, Captain Janeway of the starship Voyager in Star Trek), Elio decides that aliens exist and will surely want him if no one else does. Thus launches his quest, aided by ham radio, enormous rock signals on the beach, and much mischief, to get himself abducted. To everyone’s shock, he succeeds! He makes contact with a group of alien ambassadors who mistake him for the leader of planet Earth. A series of misunderstandings, well-intentioned lies, and general shenanigans ensure. Elio makes friends, his aunt learns to appreciate his quirks, and several crises are averted.

Much like Lilo & Stitch (the original, not the abysmal live action), this movie is about the value of family, the importance of being yourself no matter the opposition, and learning not only to accept but to celebrate diversity, individuality, and general WEIRDNESS. It’s also about the wonder and potential of exploration and space flight, and the endless possibilities of life elsewhere. (It would also be amazing if the movie reignited interest in ham radio, as Contact a few decades ago, lol).

It was a delightful and joyful movie. I got uncomfortably emotional at parts (largely pertaining to wanting to go into space; see my review of Atmosphere for a similar discussion… In fact, the weird resonance between the two was unintentional and surprising). I really hope that people (particularly families) sit up and take notice before its too late.