Not Pixar’s best but not bad either

By George Gust

“Elemental” journeys alongside an unlikely pair, Ember (voice of Leah Lewis) and Wade (Mamoudou Athie) in a city where fire, water land and air residents live together. The fiery young woman and the go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover how much they have actually in common.

Pixar has been a curious study in how a studio can handle its early and massive success. For the early years of the studio, their movies were consistently atop the box office and critical darlings (“Toy Story” through “Wall-E”). In the years following, the brand of Pixar has had their ebbs and flows and most recently has been in desperate need of a return to form in theaters after the notable failure of last year’s “Lightyear.” “Elemental” appears on the surface like a spiritual successor to “Inside Out” but its story lacks the focused emotional punch that “Inside Out” was able to deliver.

The early success of Pixar was due in large part to the focus on telling stories that relate to audiences of all ages that felt poignant whether you were 7 or 70. The first act of “Elemental” paints the story with a broad brush suitable for the younger kids in the audi- ence but feels too limited to the more mature in attendance. And while the trailers would have you believe that “Elemental” is a familiar star-crossed lovers tale, the main narrative of the film ends up being about a second generation immigrant struggling to prioritize her dreams versus the wishes of her father who made tough sacrifices for her. When trying to tie all these ideas together “Elemental” takes a step back from the stellar storytelling of prior Pixar films. In terms of a visual experience however, “Elemental” continues the impressive progress of Pixar’s pho-

Answers on Page 19 torealistic visual style. The mixture of subtle differences between how the elements are presented creates a beautifully drawn visual pallet to the film set amid the backdrop of a wildly creative and immersive cityscape. And when you mix in the wonderfully composed score by long time Pixar collaborator Thomas Newman there are moments in “Elemental” that are undeniably moving just by the way the image and sound work together to create a visceral emotional response.

Overall, while there are issues with the way in which the filmmakers built the world in “Elemental” but there is enough enjoyment in the beautiful animation even while the story can feel a bit uneven throughout. “Elemental” likely won’t make the top of favorite Pixar films, but is worthy as a welcome distraction to children entering the doldrums of summer vacation.

“Elemental” is rated PG for some peril, thematic elements and brief language.

2,8 out of 5 stars

To reach George Gust for a comment on this review, please e-mail gust.george@gmail.com

Elm Tree concert 7-2

The singer-songwriter duo known as Middle Sister will perform at the Arcadia Round Barn on Sunday, July 2. The 1 p.m. concert is part of the Elm Tree Concert Series.

Robin Brooks and Susan Pierce went to music school together, and reconnected years later. They share their stories through a distinctive acoustic blend, spotlighting vocal harmonies, diverse instruments and imaginative lyricism.

Venues in which they have performed include the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the OKC Arts Council’s Art Moves programs, Belle Isle Brewery, Full Circle Bookstore and the Oklahoma City and Paseo arts festivals.

Elm Tree Concerts are beneath the shade of the elm tree on the north side of the Round Barn. Admission is free but donations are accepted for the maintenance of the nonprofit museum. Guests can bring lawn chairs or sit at the picnic tables.

The Round Barn Rendezvous is scheduled for Sunday, July 9, from noon to 4 p.m. Musicians of all skill levels are invited to bring their instruments and join the monthly jam session.

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