SPOILER ALERT: Elemental
Based on its initial box office returns, Elemental didn’t immediately find its footing, compared to previous Pixar blockbusters. But a few weeks in and it was considered a sleeper hit.
While it received a slow-burn reception and mixed reviews (some harsher than others, given the stellar track record and sky-high expectations of Pixar), it had to be one of the most romantic films in years, exuberantly animated and with no shortage of heart.
Image: IMDB/Elemental
Elemental City is where the 4 elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water; coexist, albeit separately. The elements live in close proximity to each other, but live in more or less segregated communities, along with their co-elements, and it has been that way ever since. So much so that openly rejecting other elements from their establishments is a common and accepted practice.
Image: IMDB/Elemental
The leading man, Wade, a chill and sentimental water element, accidentally flows (pun not intended) into the Fireplace, the family store of the leading lady, Ember, a feisty, explosive (pun again not intended) fire element. Unfortunately for Ember’s rundown, noncompliant establishment, Wade is a city inspector and writes them up, leading to a shutdown notice for their family business.
Image: IMDB/Elemental
Needless to say, Wade starts off on the wrong foot with Ember’s parents, and ends up banned from their store.
Image: IMDB/Elemental
Wade tries to help Ember plead her case to city authority, in order to make it up to her and her family.
Image: IMDB/Elemental
After they had gotten through the initial awkwardness of their first meet, and adventures and misadventures of trying to save Ember’s family business, the earnest Wade grows on the fiercely independent Ember. In spite of their, well, elemental differences.
Now onto the next hump of awkwardness to hurdle: meeting each other’s families. The script pokes some sideways fun at comments interracial couples, or simply anybody being a different race, commonly encounter. Wade’s family is surprised at how well-spoken Ember is for a Fire element, while Ember’s family remarks that all Water elements look the same.
Meeting the family is always a special, awkward thing.
Image: IMDB/Elemental
Elemental is an animated romance that’s fun enough for children, but deals with deeper issues like race, culture, tradition, and family dynamics.
Image: IMDB/Elemental
Ember is the daughter of immigrants and feels she has no choice but to continue managing their family business to please her family. “Because the only way to repay a sacrifice so big is by sacrificing your life, too,” in her own words.
Wade, who grew up in a completely different family background and community, has to ask, “Why does anyone get to tell you what you can do in your life?”
Image: IMDB/Elemental
Under this constant pressure, Ember is highly anxious about how her relationship with Wade will work out in the end at all.
Their chemical structures were too different. Their ending could be him vaporized as soon as they touched.
Image: IMDB/Elemental
Even for things outside of romance, we’re always advised to “stay in your lane,” which seems sensible enough because when things are too different, it’s hard to imagine anything good coming out of their combination.
But sweet and sour pork is tasty.
Salted caramel isn’t bad, either.
In the tech space, Apple combined clunky and traditionally unattractive technology with the human factor to come up with slick, intuitive design being enjoyed by millions.
What is something exciting that you’ve always wanted to try, but you’ve talked yourself out of because it was beyond your comfort zone?
Whether your qualms are because of personal, physical or social biases… Chances are, trying something new and different could result in a pleasant surprise.
Image: IMDB/Elemental
0 comments