When thinking of Pixar films, there are a lot of nostalgic and tearful moments that come to mind. To name a few of Pixar’s tear jerking films: Up, Coco, Toy Story 3 and more have shown audiences some of the most heartbreaking moments combining the fanciful with the realistic.
In true Pixar fashion, Onward proves that Pixar still knows how to tug audiences’ heartstrings with realistic hardships of life while providing an exciting, whimsical story that enthralls the viewers.
Set in New Mushroomtown, Onward follows two elf brothers, Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley (Chris Pratt), in a world where people have ceased practicing any magic and instead are dominated by regular household appliances and technology.
However, on Ian’s 16th birthday, the brothers receive a gift from their deceased father via their mother, and discover that he used to practice magic. Their father wants them to rediscover the virtues of magic, and he inspires them by giving them a wizard’s staff and a spell to bring him back to life for just one day.
When the spell goes wrong, Ian and Barley are left with only their father’s legs and 24 hours to figure out a way to bring the rest of him back.
The storyline follows a seemingly formulaic quest film but with such a powerful originality to it. Everything from the complexity and relatability of the characters to the intricacy of the world building makes the film entirely impressive. Onward is positioned with a world unlike other Pixar films, making opportunities for other films with various characters from the same universe.
Though there are some points throughout the film that are underdeveloped, the dialogue is simply fantastic, thanks to the work of director and writer Dan Scanlon, as well as Jason Headley and Keith Bunin. The banter between the brothers is brilliantly written to how siblings truly fight. Not to mention Barley’s D&D speak and Ian’s classic teen-social-outcast anxieties that are obvious and subtle are written with such a realistic and relatable sense.
Though the animation and screenplay deserve a lot of credit for making the film great, Onward wouldn’t be nearly as amazing without its perfect cast. Holland and Pratt have worked with each other in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the duo has never been more dynamic than in their roles as Ian and Barley. Holland brings out everything you’d expect and more from Ian, a young teen just trying to get through high school, and Pratt brings his booming vocal talents to the odd-ball Barley, the fearless, protective, nerdy and always-gaming older brother.
However, Holland and Pratt aren’t the only strong points of the film. Julia Louis-Dreyfus lends her voice to Laurel, the classic suburban mom of Barley and Ian. Though she didn’t get nearly enough development as a character throughout the film, it’s exciting to see the perfect energy she brings to the role. Right up there with the underdeveloped character arc would be The Mantecore, voiced by Octavia Spencer. Spencer brings such a powerful and quirky energy to the character that juxtapose some of her other more well-known roles as a calm and motherly figure in films like The Help and •Hidden Figures.
The film also features other great voice actors like Mel Rodriguez, Kyle Bornheimer, Lena Waithe, Ali Wong, Wilmer Valderrama and so many more. There are several great actors whose characters don’t receive a lot of screen time, including the much debated Officer Spector (Waithe), who marks Pixar’s first openly gay character. Though there are arguments on both sides of why it’s a good or bad representation of the LGBTQ+ community, the fact is, her screen time is very small, similar to other great characters in the film.
Surprisingly, Onward hasn’t received great reviews from most media outlets. Though the film clinched an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, other outlets are saying the film fails to reach the typical Pixar standard of filmmaking.
However, the film is incredibly beautiful and undeserving of the negative reviews. Scanlon’s tale, resembling his own childhood of losing his father and being taken care of by his mother and older brother, is a brilliant addition to the Pixar film family.
