Eleven-year-old Elio, still grieving the loss of his parents, lives with his aunt Olga, who works a demanding job involving orbital analysis. Feeling isolated and unwanted, he seeks solace in connecting with extraterrestrial life, becoming fixated on ham radios and hoping for abduction. Eventually, Elio’s wish comes true when aliens take him to an extraordinary realm populated by unfamiliar species. He's eager to remain there until he learns they believe he is Earth’s leader. Through deception, he integrates himself into the alien society, but his continued presence requires a dangerous act of bravery to protect them. The movie revisits certain themes with a sense of artistry. Elio experiences familial loss early on and struggles to form friendships due to his eccentricities. The film attempts to portray him as imaginative—he’s even invented his own language and is skilled at manipulating situations—but he often comes across as unkind, treating his supportive aunt with disrespect. At its core, the animated science fiction story centers around Elio's journey toward accepting his parents’ absence, confronting feelings of loneliness and low self-esteem, and discovering that family can be found in unexpected places and that one is never truly alone. Initially sent to boarding school because of behavioral issues, Elio later finds himself at the Communiverse, where he encounters OOOOO, a liquid-like supercomputer who clones him and sends the duplicate back to Earth to conceal his departure. However, checking on his clone allows Elio to appreciate his relationship with his aunt and experience homesickness. The film’s visual strength shines when Elio is at the Communiverse, a gathering place for alien leaders from across the galaxy eager to share knowledge and recruit promising individuals. These scenes are filled with unusual creatures, allowing the narrative to disregard conventional physics and logic. Glordon stands out as the most captivating character. Inspired by larval insects and microscopic organisms like tardigrades, his design is striking: he resembles a worm with an endless mouth full of teeth reminiscent of a sandworm from *Dune*. He possesses spider-like web-spinning abilities and can withstand extreme heat. Despite his intimidating appearance, Glordon has a charmingly childlike voice and expressive demeanor when equipped with an English translator. His bond with Elio resonates more deeply than the film’s attempts to foster a connection between Elio and his aunt. Unfortunately, the movie progresses at a slow pace, feeling protracted for much of its run time. The first hour drags as Elio deceives those around him, becomes entangled in an alien scheme, and tries to permanently leave Earth behind. Aside from a brief, enjoyable sequence showing Glordon the Communiverse, the narrative largely consists of Elio realizing he’s gone too far with his lies. The film's use of slow-motion is noticeably flawed; it appears as an afterthought rather than an integrated element of the animation and creates a jarring, amateurish effect. Despite its visual appeal and moments of entertainment in the final twenty minutes, *Elio* ultimately proves to be a disappointing experience. The story follows an unlikable protagonist who acts like a spoiled child throughout, leaving viewers with the message that he should treat those who care about him with greater kindness. Somewhere within this film lies a spark of whimsy and charm, trapped inside a character prone to entitlement and dishonesty.

Source on TMDB