Elemental is Pixar‘s most recent production, although, unfortunately, the figures showed that it has also been the worst release in its entire history. The first theory of its failure pointed to the fact that nobody goes to the movies anymore, and that’s why it hasn’t done well at the box office; however, we have another one that may make more sense.
Is Elemental a Rip-off of a 60s Movie?
No spoiler alert… Elemental tells the love story of Ember and Wade, and the conflicts they go through because they love each other and live in different worlds (she is fire and he is water; two elements that, according to physics, don’t mix… that much).
Besides being a sort of Romeo and Juliet type of story, Elemental does talk about a racial theme combined with the classic love novel in which romance always ends up overcoming all impediments. What many didn’t realize is that Pixar‘s new film is inspired by Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, a 60’s movie that positively depicts an interracial marriage.
This movie tells the story of a white woman who falls in love with a black man, and they both have to convince her parents to let them be together. It is worth mentioning that this was shocking at the time because such marriages were illegal.
Elemental is a story already seen many times, thousands of times if you ask us; however, it fails to connect with audiences, much less with today’s audiences, as they consider that this topic is not relevant simply because it is no longer a problem for them. And this could be the reason why it has been considered Pixar’s biggest failure because that reflection of love is no longer an image with which they feel identified. It is not the love story that the new generations resonate with because they are aware that none of this is true.
New audiences are looking for themes that are much more relevant, that connect with them and with what they experience daily, not a theme that was experienced many years ago. Elemental is another film that talks about racism most easily, love; however, it is not always the right way, and its reception was the proof.
Have you seen Elemental, what did you think?
Story written in Spanish by Kate Nateras in Cultura Colectiva
