Elio

Disney/Pixar's latest family film ELIO is beautiful to look at, kinda sweet and kinda fun. Is that the new standard for Pixar films these days?

There's no doubt that lots of plush toys and robot figures will be sold at Disney Parks around the new alien characters, but I'm not sure I'll remember any of them in a few days.

Let's lean in on the good first.

The production design by Harley Jessup (Coco, Ratatouille) is stunning. Every scene on Earth looks photo realistic. The intergalactic worlds are even better, loaded with trippy settings and eye popping sets.

The music score by Ron Simonsen (Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Deadpool & Wolverine) is fun & emotional in all the tones needed for this colorful world.

14-year-old Yonas Kibreab (Disney+ Obi-Wan Kenobi series) brings a lot of presence to young Elio, our recently orphaned young star gazer, now living with his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldana, rather blah).

Brad Garrett has a blast as Lord Grigon, the hawkish alien military leader who's picking an intergalactic fight with anyone that will listen. Garrett puts his enormous voice talents to great work here.

Lord Grigon meets Elio when he is abducted by aliens after many, many nights of trying. Elio spends most of his days on Earth hiding from bullies and most nights on his roof or at the beach, at the center of giant signs asking for aliens to come get him.

When it finally does happen, the film picks up considerably.

There are aliens of every variety waiting for the leader of Earth to arrive and Elio manages to pull off that role, finding a bit of himself while doing so. Elio meets Lord Grigon's giant, slimy, worm like son Glordon, joyfully voiced by young Remy Edgerly. Glordon is having by far the most fun in this movie and it feels more like a Pixar film when the character is on screen. Edgerly is a treat in the role.

The final act back on Earth is quite a bit of fun. The action at the army base looks fantastic in Real 3D and sounds great in Dolby.

However, the entire movie just kind of evaporates like the misty trails behind the alien spacecraft. The entire thing is nice, but rather forgettable.

Pixar's last film, "Elemental" was a bit of a slow burn with audiences, opening small and eventually earning over a half a billion at the box office. It had an ingenious concept though, echoing "Inside Out" with its clever dive into emotions and a universe below the surface.

This weekend's totals for ELIO are the lowest ever for a Pixar release and it's not surprising.

I don't see it growing in the weeks ahead, as families return to the live action "How To Train Your Dragon", or one last taste of "Lilo & Stitch" on the big screen. HTTYD is ten times as entertaining & fun, clipping Elio's wings.

Pixar films used to feel more compelling, more impactful.

The irony is that the entire film feels just like young Elio does before his journey: inconsequential.

While ELIO may soar off across the galaxy, the film around him never quite escapes the gravity of high Pixar expectations, barely earning a B-.