HCA Gradebook: “Elemental”

Movie: Elemental
Plot: Set in Element City, where Fire-, Water-, Earth- and Air-residents live together, Elemental introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in.
Cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Catherine O’Hara, Mason Wertheimer, and Joe Pera.
Director: Peter Sohn
Release Date: June 16, 2023
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Number of Graders: 29
Overall Grade: B+

Ashley Saunders says, “Elemental has it all–impressive visuals, an endearing story, plus it’s a lot of fun. On the surface it plays like a rom-com–two star-crossed lovers have met in fair Verona Element City, there is the meet cute moment, the fight against feelings, until ultimately realizing they are something more. Ted Lasso would love it. However, this is a Pixar film which means there are other layers at play that all weave together to tell an incredible story of immigrant life, generational burdens, and multicultural relationships. In true Pixar fashion it also is accompanied by a beautiful score and an emotional throughline that is bound to bring tears to your eyes.”
Grade: A+

Ema Sasic says, “Elemental burns so bright. Not only is it one of the most beautiful tributes to immigrant families and all they leave behind to pursue a better life, but it also has an incredible love story. The animation is so colorful and vivid and it pulls you into all the action and adventure taking place in Element City. Thank you, Pixar, for making a beautiful story for us immigrant kids.”
Grade: A+

Michael Lee says, “Elemental is a heartfelt chemical mixture of opposites attract romantic comedy and first-generational family experiences. Pixar’s latest has fun conveying its message through emotional storytelling and animating real-life physics. And Thomas Newman’s score is outstanding.”
Grade: A

Joel David Amos says, “Pixar/Disney have done it again. Elemental is truly a film for the entire family. It’s not sImply a catch phrase here as The Mouse House’s latest delivers something for every soul. Does it remind us of Inside Out in a big way? Yes. Absolutely. But is that such a bad thing? Instead of emotions, like in Inside Out, Elemental features the lives and times of the …. You guessed it—elements. Not wanting to spoil a thing, let’s just say within five minutes one gets lost in a relatable (on a multiple of levels) storyline that has you entrained in the travails of true to their core characters—not simply “elements” of the world. The ensemble is top notch. Bring tissues and be prepared to leave the theater as viewers often do with Pixar films, emotionally altered and most importantly, entertained.”
Grade: A

Monica Gleberman says, “Elemental (story by Peter Sohn, John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, and Brenda Hsueh) is cute, funny, entertaining, and has everything you want in a good Pixar movie. The animation in this film is some of the best Pixar has done in years! Sohn, who also directed the film, helps take you on a journey of learning and discovering all the elements in fun and exciting ways. While it leans on being a romantic comedy, it also has a lot of emotional security within the storytelling. You find yourself immediately attached to the characters and invested. This movie is so good; even the trailer will make you smile. It’s suitable for adults and children. The lesson here is that we can love and be different – but we all find common ground in the elements.”
Grade: A

Zachary Pope says, “Elemental is a special kind of animated movie that reminds us why PIXAR is the best in the business. A Love story that fills your heart with emotions and your body with joy! Hilarious too! This film speaks volumes on so many themes & knocks them out of the part!”
Grade: A-

Sara Clements says, “Peter Sohn’s Elemental is one of Pixar’s best works in recent years. Welcoming the audience into a world filled with the elements that make up our own, the script by John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, and Brenda Hsueh deftly brings to life a story with both themes that are universal and those that carry much more weight, working as both a beautiful love story between an unexpected pairing and the shaping of identity. Full of heart and humor, it’s a film that will hit profound notes for both kids and adults.”
Grade: A-

Josie Meléndez says, “Peter Sohn returns after a lackluster addition to the Pixar universe with The Good Dinosaur by offering an emotionally captivating story about immigration and familial expectations. Elemental is Pixar’s first attempt at their very own Romantic Comedy, and it thrives within the tropes due to its vibrant cast. Tender, moving, and lovely, I can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking to feel something. With moving performances from Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie, make sure to bring tissues because Elemental will have you laughing and crying as much as humanly, or elementally, possible.”
Grade: A-

Mike Manalo says, “Yeah it’s true, Elemental may not reach the heights of Pixar’s classics. But you know what? It never had to. It only ever needed to be the sweet, beautiful, outspoken movie that it is. It’s a movie about family, about society, and about dreams. In short, in many ways, it’s a story about America and our place in it. And all of that comes across wonderfully, highlighted by some of the most gorgeous animation ever put out by the animation studio. The love story and the writing could have been stronger. I can’t deny that. But at the end of the day, at its core, the beauty and beating heart residing within this movie are simply elemental.”
Grade: B+

Nicholas Spake says, “When the previews for Pixar’s latest film landed, people seemed to dwell on the familiar elements (pun intended). It’s Inside Out, but with elements! It’s Zootopia, but with elements! What the previews don’t delve into are the fresh factors that make Elemental one of Pixar’s best recent offerings. It’s a touching story about immigration, generational gaps, and mixed couples. This is Pixar’s most fleshed-out romance since WALL-E, although ironically in both cases, none of the characters have flesh. Even if some elements don’t stray far from Pixar’s brand, they’re executed with more wit and creativity than most of us are capable of producing. The film encourages audiences not to judge a book by its cover, which applies to anyone who felt underwhelmed by the ads.”
Grade: B+

Abe Friedtanzer says, “Pixar’s latest effort is a typically charming and wildly imaginative vision of elements as the populace of a city. An immigration story is couched in a genuinely endearing and invigorating tale of unexpected friendship, filled with dazzling visuals and overflowing with creativity. Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie lead a delightful voice cast.”
Grade: B+

Matt Neglia says, “Elemental is not only one of the better Pixar films in recent memory but one of their best overall. This clever & emotional love story will warm your heart & make you cry. A moving tribute to immigrant parents with gorgeous animation. Thomas Newman’s soothing score is magnificent.”
Grade: B+

Tom O’Brien says, “Though its racial analogies can get a bit heavy-handed at times, the film’s two core storylines are sound: a love story (a Pixar first!) between fire element Ember (voiced by Leah Lewis) and water element Wade (Mamoudou Athie) that evokes surprising emotion, and a moving exploration of the pressures that kids of immigrants feel to make their families proud. Featuring one of the year’s best musical scores by Thomas Newman. Elemental may not be top-tier, but it’s arguably the best Pixar film of the last few years.”
Grade: B+

Clarence Moye says, “Pixar sets its sights on bringing an animated presence to the genre with its opposites attract entry Elemental. Of course Pixar being Pixar, Elemental isn’t *just* a romantic comedy. It also provides an emotionally resonate subplot about generational expectations passed down to children of immigrants. Ultimately, it’s rather fascinating that the film — again, a romantic comedy peppered with themes about generational trauma — is ostensibly a kid’s movie last. I don’t fault the film or Pixar for continuing to elevate animation into a deeply adult experience with a handful of jokes tossed in for the kiddies. They’ve had great success historically with similar thematically heavy material (Up, Wall-E, Ratatouille, and on and on), but previous entries offered more of a balance between comedy that appeases the kids and thematic content aimed for adults. Elemental needed more of that balance. Wearing your heart on your sleeve isn’t a bad thing. It just shouldn’t be the only thing.”
Grade: B

Paul McGuire Grimes says, “Elemental hits on a variety of important topics, but I don’t think its lands as impactful as Inside Out or a Wall-E. It’s a cute Pixar love story that drives home the understanding of what makes each of us special, which will hopefully resonate with younger audiences.”
Grade: B

Rick Bentley says, “Like a cinematic alchemist, director Peter Sohn (Lightyear) has mixed all of the right elements to create the latest Disney and Pixar offering, Elemental. The problem is that the final compound is not that exciting.”
Grade: B

Caillou Pettis says, “While Elemental may cater to a different generation, it leaves fans longing for the enchantment and emotional depth that once defined these iconic studios.”
Grade: B

Tony Toscano says, “Elemental is a sweet and romantic film with terrific animation. The story has a few hiccups but not enough to complain about. Elemental is a heartwarming film the kids and the kid in you will love. Again, it’s in selected theaters and gets a B.”
Grade: B

Jana N Nagase says, “Elemental is a touching & lovely immigrant story that a lot of us will relate to. It shows that true love  can transcend any element! Stunning animation & score! Bring your tissues… I cried a little.”
Grade: B

Alex Billington says, “As majestically beautiful as this Pixar creation is, it’s strangely missing the magic that’s usually found within the story of most Pixar movies. While I want to explore more of this fascinating Elemental City, the rest of the narrative is oddly generic and derivative, following simple stories of love and integration. Of course, it’s Pixar so I could stare at every frame for hours but there’s not much really that happens in it besides cleaning up some leaky water.”
Grade: B-

Mark Johnson says, “When it comes to delivering its sweet but obvious messaging, Elemental doesn’t hold back. Despite that, the film manages to be an appealing addition to the Pixar anthology. There may not be anything groundbreaking here, but Thomas Newman’s score is stirring and resplendent.”
Grade: B-

James White says, “Elemental feels like Pixar, if not on autopilot, then on a more basic level than some of its biggest successes. An interesting look at immigrant experiences and an unusually romantic pairing are utilized to tell a fairly basic story that lacks some of the emotional wallop of earlier films. It’s still bristling with invention and technically impressive, though even that suffers in comparison to Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, which far outmatches it from an animated front. Yet Pixar still knows how to bring low-key charm and it’ll keep families happy, especially anyone who has worried about disappointing their parents.”
Grade: B-

Cleide Klock says, “This is a visually stunning sweet rom-com, a meaningful story about immigration and how opposites can complete and complement each other. Not the best movie from Pixar but it’s still worthwhile.”
Grade: B-

Chelsea Schwartz says, “Elemental is a Pixar rom com that feels like if Inside Out was set inside Zootopia. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s a cute watch. Stay for the fun fiery signs sprinkled into the credits like Wells Farglow.”
Grade: B-

Peggy Marie says, “With beautiful animation making Element City the place to be this weekend, add in a sweet love story of love conquers all and being different is okay – and you have Elemental.”
Grade: B-

Jami Philbrick says, “A fun and entertaining, yet unremarkable Pixar movie.”
Grade: C+

Scott Menzel says, “Elemental looks incredible but the story feels all too familiar. While the characters are likable enough, I feel like too much of the story reminded me of other films ones that felt more edgy and unique. The humor in the film is also rather one-note and repetitive. I wanted to like this one but sadly, Elemental is mid-to-low tier Pixar. It’s a little bit better than Lightyear but not enough to put it above films like Ratatouille or even Onward.”
Grade: C

Rachel Wagner says, “It’s not just enough to make a romance- you have to give reasons why the characters are attracted to each other and what makes them a compelling couple I’m rooting for.”
Grade: C-

John Nguyen says, “Elemental touches on the immigrant story, which I can relate to, but the lackluster story and the chemistry between Wade and Ember weren’t strong enough to elevate this animated film.”
Grade: C-