Elemental
“In Elemental, the choice to present Wade as the catalyst for Ember’s growth devalues her strength and independence.”
Title: Elemental (2023)
Director: Peter Sohn 👨🏻🇺🇸
Writers: Peter Sohn 👨🏻🇺🇸, John Hoberg 👨🏼🇺🇸, Kat Likkel 👩🏼🇺🇸, and Brenda Hsueh 👩🏻🇺🇸
Reviewed by Elva Si 👩🏻🇨🇳🇺🇸
Technical: 3.5/5
Pixar films often have the magic touch. One minute I’m sitting there, and the next thing I know, I’m sobbing over animated characters. Inside Out (2015) taught me to embrace the full spectrum of emotions, Coco (2017) delivered a gut punch about the power of love, music, and intergenerational bonds, while Soul (2020) reminded me to find joy and meaning in moments as small as watching a leaf fall. These stories were more than just movies; they imparted deep and valuable life lessons.
This brings us to Pixar’s latest offering, Elemental. Director Peter Sohn’s film is a visual feast, no doubt, unfolding in a metropolis where four elements coexist: water, fire, wind, and earth. For two hours, viewers wander around a splendid fantasy world … but it loses its footing in the narrative. Rather than introducing a fresh metaphor, the likes of Turning Red (2022), or stumbling upon poignant epiphanies, Elemental serves up a cookie-cutter rom-com between Ember (Leah Lewis), a passionate Fire girl, and Wade (Mamoudou Athie), a sensitive Water boy. It ends as you might imagine: True love conquers all. (Yawn.)
It doesn’t help that Elemental bites off more than it can chew, tackling heavy themes like immigration, racism, intergenerational conflict, and identity. But juggling these complicated topics needs thoughtful storytelling that doesn't shy away from hard parts. For all its diverse beauty, Element City feels sadly under-explored, as the spotlight narrowly homes in on Ember and Wade. The movie plays it safe, leaving me longing for more.
Gender: 3.25/5
Does it pass the Bechdel Test? YES
At first glance, Elemental challenges traditional gender norms. Wade is a big softie who bubbles with compassion and fights for what he loves. Ember, on the other hand, is a fearless adventurer as she impetuously takes Wade on a motorcycle ride, or pilots a hot air balloon. Best of all, Elemental passes the Bechdel test with flying colors: Gale (Wendi McLendon-Covey), Wade's Wind boss at City Hall, shares plenty of scenes with Ember as they debate the ownership of Ember’s family shop. She goes on to become one of the Fire girl’s strongest supporters.
But if you take a step back, consider their power dynamics. Wade, Mr. Big Shot City Governor, lives it up in a swanky downtown pad. Ember, on the other hand, runs a small grocery store in the underdeveloped Fire Town, far from city buzz. Throughout the story, Wade pushes Ember to pursue her dreams over familial duty. But how could he possibly understand the weight she carries? Wade gets the world on a silver platter; his family supports all his pursuits. In contrast, Ember is a second-generation immigrant living with cultural pressure, judgment from those in power, as well as financial struggles. Although the movie shows us that Ember has innate resilience, the choice to present Wade as the catalyst for her growth devalues her strength and independence.
Ember deserves her own narrative, her own path to forge. She's not a damsel in distress who needs a rich man to show her the way; let her shine on her own terms.
Race: 3.75/5
Through its immigrant story, Elemental touches on serious matters like racial injustice. For instance, Ember's parents have to abandon their real names when the city governor can't pronounce them. Ember and her dad come face to face with signs labeled "No Fire Allowed!" and folks who yell "go back to Fire Town!" Microaggressions also appear, such as Wade's father “complimenting” Ember’s English proficiency.
However, Elemental doesn’t actually address racism beyond simply showing that it exists. Instead, the story quickly pivots to the cross-cultural couple living out their fairytale ending. But what happens to the Fire community after a flood nearly wipes out the entire town? Will there be any changes in Element City policies, or individuals stepping up to fight discrimination? As an immigrant myself, I want more than awareness (and a tired reinforcement) of our struggles. I want to see a world we can aspire to.
That said, Elemental does succeed in cultural inclusiveness and celebratory spectacle. Fire people perform traditional rituals like the Big Bow and keep their heritage alive with the Blue Flame. And Ember's struggle of choosing between her dreams and her parents' sacrifices will likely sound familiar to anyone with immigrant parents. If you peek behind the curtain, you'll also find an all-star lineup of diverse talent. Sohn dedicates Elemental to his Korean parents; Lewis, who’s Chinese American, lends her voice to Ember; Athie, a Mauritanian American actor, brings Wade to life; and Ember's old man, Bernie, is voiced by Filipino American Ronnie Del Carmen. All the while, screenwriter Brenda Hsueh imparts a delightful Chinese American flavor to Fire people’s story.
Moreover, Elemental serves as a powerful reminder that immigrant struggle isn't exclusive to one ethnic group or another. The film's parable goes beyond the Asian American experience and can hit home for anyone who’s carved out their own path in unfamiliar territory.
Bonus for LGBTQ: +0.25
Wade’s younger sibling Lake (Kai Ava Hauser) is the first nonbinary character Pixar’s ever had. But in true Disney form, the “representation” is scant, feeling more like a marketing ploy than actual inclusion. Lake shows up at Wade’s family dinner, greets Ember with one line, and then proof! They’re gone. No peep about their identity onscreen, either. After the movie, I had to go to Google just to piece it together.
Mediaversity Grade: B- 3.58/5
Elemental gifts us an imaginative and gorgeously rendered world. While the story may fall short on nuance, kudos to Sohn for daring to tackle weighty themes like immigration, racism, and intergenerational conflict. Movies have the power to shake things up and get us talking in the real world, with kid-friendly animated features further lowering the barrier to entry. With this promising effort, I look forward to what Pixar has in store for us next.
Like Elemental? Try these other animated movies featuring leads of color.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Flee (2021)
Over the Moon (2020)