Like others have said it takes a bit to get into it, but once you do it’s a great time. I think the world ended up being very creative and inventive on how the elements were able to coexist. The imagery is also gorgeous, and I hope that I have the opportunity to watch it in Dolby over the next week before Friday when it switches over to…I’m not sure what comes out next weekend actually. The score is phenomenal as well. However I can’t think of a Pixar movie that doesn’t have a bad score or without scenes that mesmerize in their beauty. Yes even films like Lightyear have some great pieces of score and imagery,
In terms of the characters honestly other than Clod I really enjoyed them all. In particular the chemistry and dynamic that Ember and Wade had in as phenomenal, and honestly I aspire to be half the person Wade was. Wade was so sweet, caring, and really pushed everyone to be themselves. Wade is everything and honestly he made me miss my boyfriend - we’re currently long distance and its been hard, but this character reminded me of us. Right after I called him just to tell him that I love him and how lucky I was to find someone like him.
Ember’s family’s story is very familiar and I could connect to it even though my parents immigrated from Cuba. I think a lot of people, or at least first generation kids like myself can relate to this struggle to live up to your family, your culture and knowing everything they’ve sacrificed to come to a new world. This to me is a classic story of the American dream not something niche that is just to one people group.
A lot of the side characters were extraordinarily quirky and provided a good amount of comedy for the film - except Clod, he was annoying. However the mothers were hoots, Gale was entertaining, the various other fires that Ember deals with in the store with fun to watch.
Overall, I think this was a classic love story that was made better with its interesting and compelling setting, relatable characters and story, humor, and most of heart.