Elemental

Available in selected cinemas and on Disney+

As pointed out by Mark Kermode on his and Simon Mayo’s excellent podcast, Kermode & Mayo’s Take, there are two ways of analysing the merits of Elemental. On one hand, it is arguably one of the weakest films Pixar have produced in recent years, with neither its animation or screenplay coming close to matching the studio’s best work.

Set in Element City, where anthropomorphic elements coexist, the film is centred on a budding romance between Ember (Leah Lewis) and Wade (Mamoudou Athie), which defies their assumed incompatibility (one is made of the fire, the other of water) while drawing the ire of the former’s traditionalist parents. While the motif behind this opposites attract story ensures Elemental has more than its fair share of tender moments, the concept is far too familiar to truly pull at the heartstrings of anybody other than the most sentimental of viewers.

Nonetheless, when one considers the origins of Sohn’s picture and the lengthy process that was required to bring it to the silver screen, it does leave you more inclined to consider the merits of Elemental. Sohn has delivered some truly beautiful interviews which explain that the screenplay was inspired by his own experiences growing up as the son of Korean immigrants in 1970s New York City, and that his film was intended as a tribute to his parents, who both sadly passed away during its making.

Understanding this definitely re-shapes one’s initial reading, with the aforementioned Element City easier to view as a celebration of the cultural and ethnic diversity of NYC, and Ember’s parents (voiced brilliantly by Ronnie del Carmen and Shila Ommi) assuming greater significance than they otherwise would have had. While this doesn’t go as far to make up for its shortcomings, it does make Elemental easier to appreciate.