Maybe Fire and Water CAN Actually Mix in 'Elemental'/Grade: B+

Two members of opposite elements find there's more to each other than meets the eye in Pixar's brand-new romantic comedy.

Just saw Pixar's Elemental (2023) yesterday. I won't say it was perfect; in fact, the third act resorted to some tired romcom cliches I wish would've died by now, which kept me from giving it a full-on A+. However, I very much enjoyed it overall. The voice acting by Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie was very charismatic, full of personality and likable. I also appreciated how healthy the blossoming relationship was between our leads. They balance each other out with their different traits, they encourage each other to go further out of their shells, and they're willing to accept influence from each other, which is crucial to both of their arcs. The visual design of the world where the elements live; ugh! Stunning. So much depth and detail in every square inch, to where it feels like a fully-realized place. Characters are also animated with just as much individualistic attention to every nook and cranny of their personalities. What really moved me, though, was the film's central theme about accepting those who're different from you. Considering director Peter Sohn based this concept on his own life, that definitely made the message that much more impactful, especially in the final shot- which, I could not think of a better closing shot so far in 2023. If it just wasn't for that by-the-numbers third act, where I actually rolled my eyes, and a bit of busy world-building early on, this would be a perfect movie. Overall, I had a very fun time with Elemental, and would totally recommend it for a family trip to the cinema.