Movie Review: ‘Elemental’ misses the spark, but still an enjoyable time

By Jacob Goldberg

“Elemental” is the latest entry from Pixar and is their most romantic film to date. It’s also the newest film from Peter Sohn, who you might remember as the director of “The Good Dinosaur.”

The film stars Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie as Ember and Wade, two elements who couldn’t be more different. Ember is the daughter of a struggling fire family trying to keep their cafe operational. Her father, Bernie, wants her to inherit the shop despite her terrible temper.

One day Ember’s plans are ruined after an outburst leaves her pipes badly damaged and sucks Wade, a water elemental, into her life. Wade discovers the cafe is in terrible condition and is forced to report the citations to his job at Elemental City. Ember chases him down to plead her case, and the two join forces to save her family’s shop. Hijinx, hilarity, and romance ensue. 

Pixar is no stranger to crafting compelling characters with universal appeal, and “Elemental” is no exception. Ember and Wade are an absolute delight, and their romance tugs on those ol’ heartstrings. Wade’s “adorkable” crybaby energy always manages to get a laugh but never to the detriment of the character. It would be easy to turn Wade into a joke, but the writers are able to take his character seriously without losing the humor – a tricky balancing act that pays off in the end. 

Ember’s temperament plays an excellent contrast to Wade’s wishy-washy energy. The comedy and romance between these two are palpable. Ember is the true heart of the story, as her character remains multifaceted and much more than just a romantic interest. She’s a hard worker, an artist, and a daughter who needs to confront her father about her desires in life. Audiences will easily connect with her character as they watch her tough exterior slowly get chipped away, and her relatable character arc will leave even the hardest of souls with a tear in their eye.

“Elemental” isn’t just here to romance its audience; I mean… it is, but the movie has a lot more to say than just love. While it’s a love story, first and foremost, the real backbone of the film wrestles with the complex ideas of identity and family. The story focuses heavily on Ember’s parents and their arrival in Elemental City, showcasing what it means to be a struggling couple in a new unknown environment. Ember’s parents often project their unrealistic fears and dreams onto her, making her relationship with Wade nearly impossible. The creative team did a wonderful job re-inventing the immigrant story in a way that feels fresh and distinctly Pixar. 

It’s a shame the movie never lets these ideas carry the piece. “Elemental” has an issue trying to mesh Ember’s identity conflict and anger issues alongside her relationship with Wade. The film attempts to combine these complex ideas of identity, love, and purpose in such a short amount of time that it only delivers these themes in small sporadic doses.

Where “Elemental” truly shines, though, is in the animation department. The animation industry has come a long way over the past few years. Films such as “Spiderman Into the Spiderverse” and “Puss in Boots” have been major milestones in challenging the age-old “Pixar look” that has dominated the industry. It seems as if Pixar was almost slipping in comparison, but “Elemental” helps secure its spot as an industry leader once again. To put it simply, the animation is breathtaking. It’s clear in every shot that great care and detail have been placed into each scene. The animation isn’t afraid to break the mold and even dives into the more abstract realm to help communicate the deeper emotions between the characters. 

Every element has its own unique sense of identity that is engraved into the very essence of the world. Each element also has a distinct method of interacting with the world around them, and this comes into play in fun and engaging scenarios. While Elemental City is another hyper-detailed cityscape reminiscent of Disney’s “Zootopia,” the animators still give this setting a powerful sense of identity – and much like “Zootopia,” the cityscape is meticulously designed with these unique characters in mind. It’s an absolute delight to arrive at the city each time and see the creative ways everyday life can feasibly exist here.

However, it’s a bit disappointing that the setting and characters don’t feel well-utilized in the actual narrative. The story is a bit clunky compared to previous entries in the Pixar library. Most of the film is consumed by Wade and Ember’s investigation into fixing the fire town’s leaky water problem. Sure, this paves the way for entertaining dialogue and bickering, but it will hardly keep viewers on the edge of their seats. “Elemental” stumbles upon the climax and haphazardly throws everything the film tries to say into the last 30 minutes. The writing is still effective but leaves you wanting more from such a unique premise, and the final result feels a little lacking at the end of the day.

Despite its flaws, “Elemental” captivates and enchants audiences at the right moments. While it can be a bit of a meandering trek to get to the good parts, the film continues to bring that Pixar wow factor that’s been missing from the studio for quite some time. If you’re a fan of a good romantic comedy with some pretty visuals to back it up, you should certainly give this movie a watch.

“Elemental” premiers in theaters on June 16, 2023. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Elemental” in the Parks

On June 2, 2023, Disneyland debuted a new two-minute “Elemental” short presented before “World of Color – One” at California Adventure. The limited-time water short called “Elemental Connection” brings the residents of Element City to life through projections across the park’s massive water screens, and tells the story of Ember and Wade who learn that “stepping out of their element will help them discover who they really are.”

Disney parks has already debuted a selection of “Elemental” merch, including at Knick Knacks on Pixar Pier in California Adventure.