The dizzying highs Pixar achieved early, surging from one generation defying masterpiece to another, have given way to more middling affairs of late. I'm not sure the studio is capable of making a truly bad film (at push, maybe Lightyear is the one true dud outside the Cars franchise). But they have proved exceptionally able to make films that are just fine. And that sadly is where Elio finds itself.

The titular figure here is a space-obsessed child going through the loss of his parents and seeking his place somewhere, anywhere that isn't Earth. His calls are answered as he is take across the cosmos on an intergalactic adventure.

The one positive, that we'd all expect from the studio, is that Elio is visually stunning. The studio have crafted a bright, richly-designed sci-fi world of wonder, one that is a treat for your eyeballs. The expansive universe they are exploring helps and there are many appealing alien designs on display here. It's just a shame it's linked to such a pedestrian narrative.

At times this feels so firmly in Pixar's wheelhouse of familial trauma worked for extraordinary circumstances outside of the character's control that you can hear the gears clicking away. It's a shame, as co-director Domee Shi was behind one of the very best of the studio's output, Turning Red, a film that nails this formula so effortlessly, bringing charm, warmth and personality.

There's some of that here. Yonas Kibreab's Elio is an endearing presence to hang the film off of and plays off well with Remy Edgerly's Glordon (a plush doll waiting to be stocked in the Disney store). And Zoe Saldaña's Aunt Olga gets some of the key emotional beats, even if it feels like the narrative is struggling to give her enough to do, often happy to relegate her to a comedic B-plot.

Perhaps its the curse of sci-fi animation playing out here. The number of hits in the genre can be counted on one hand. Even something as good as The Iron Giant took years to find its audience. Could Elio do the same? I'm not sure. It doesn't hit the sweet spot of the studio's best. Although I shall confess that I found the final moments moving, as the creative team finally reach for something more human that has felt pretty absent during the run time.

The wait for the next truly great Pixar film continues.