‘Elemental’ Pixar Animation Impresses Visually, But Overwhelmed by Sentimentality at Cannes Film Festival

Pixar, the innovative animation studio that brought us classics like Toy Story and Wall-E, has hit a snag with their latest film, Elemental. Despite their reputation for pushing boundaries and surprising audiences, this candy-colored tale of love between the elements falls flat. The story takes place in Element City, a watery metropolis full of canals and drains, where fire people are banned from public buildings and live across the river from the city. Ember, a sparky daughter of a fire couple, meets Wade, a transparent sausage of wet love who cries at almost anything. Together, they embark on a will they-won’t they flirtation that could have been ripped from a telenovela. While there are some quirky details and wild explosions, there isn’t a line or situation that will make you laugh out loud. The romance is simply icky and the engineering snippets may only appeal to boys. The film also tries to tackle issues of inclusivity and the refugee experience, but does so with all the subtlety of a pipe bursting under the sink. In the end, Elemental could have been called Sentimental and it would have saved time.