Elemental movie review: Pixar’s well-meaning film comes loaded with social messages

One day, a water guy called Wade Ripple washes up into Ember’s life, literally. Taught not to go to the unwelcome part of the big city, Ember is swept off her feet. Admittedly, so are we. It’s fascinating to see how imagining people as embodiments of elements is translated onto the screen, including a wind boss lady called Gale who crackles with lightning, an earth child called Clod who springs flowers out of his armpit to show Ember he is all “grown up”, and a Mexican wave of real water at a game of windball.

Ember sees herself reflected in Wade, literally, and he melts at her sight, swimmingly. He cries buckets at the slightest emotion, she bursts in flames at the least provocation. The two of them do well enough without the burden the film keeps loading on them. It’s well meaning, but even the film seems to be just going through the motions.

“Embrace the light while it burns,” is alright. But the winning message here is simpler, when Wade and Ember touch and realise: “Love changes chemistries.”

Elemental movie director: Peter Sohn
Elemental movie cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie Del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey
Elemental movie rating: 3 stars