Rated PG

ELIO tells the story of a recent orphan living with his aunt. Desperately wanting a new life, Elio sends a signal into space with a tricked-out ham radio… and miraculously gets a reply. When he is abducted by aliens, Elio convinces them he is the leader of Earth.

On its surface, there’s a lot to swallow here, but it is entirely digestible by telling the story from a child’s point of view. And with a massive dose of Pixar charm, the movie manages to be relatable to anyone who has ever felt like a bit of a misfit.

The film has many clever layers that offer wonderful messaging without being preachy or reductive.

For the kids, it’s a vibrant and fun space adventure. And for the parents, it’s an emotional ride that will catch you off guard and possibly bring a tear to your eye.

Beautifully animated and grounded with humanity, ELIO is simply a darling of a movie.

ELIO gets four and a half ham radios out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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