Onward - Review

Pixar has set an incredibly unrealistic bar for themselves over the years with movies with Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, etc. While Onward doesn't reach the heights of most of Pixar's classics, Dan Scanlon has directed a really good movie with a lot to like.

I love the world that Pixar has created. In a land full of magic and mystical creatures, along the way, the inhabitants of the world discovered technology and magic fell to the wayside. So while the world is populated with mystical creatures like elves, trolls, dragons, unicorns, etc. they all live in a world very similar to ours full of fast food restaurants, cellphones, high schools, suburban neighbourhoods as well as interstate freeways full of cars. But every single design still has a medievil touch to it. The suburban homes are shaped like mushrooms, buildings, although made of glass and full of office cubicles, still have a castle design. I also enjoyed seeing these characters use spells and discover different kinds of magic which brought me back to the good ol' days of Harry Potter. The creativity is in full flight here and I wanted to see more! Which of course looks amazing from an animation stand point as Pixar continues to make gorgeous looking movies. Except this is a movie with a story about two characters so naturally, the focus can't entirely be on the mix of medieval and modern styles in the world.

Luckily, we have a group of likable characters to connect with on this magical quest through the wonderful unique world Pixar has created. Ian and Barley are two brothers that live with their mom and their dad sadly passed away before Ian was born. Ian struggles with typical teenage boy problems like making friends, learning to drive and just being overcome by fear. Barley is the ultimate bro who loves role playing games and wishes to go back to the days of old full of magic and wonder. When they discover that there is a way to bring back their father for one day, but only bring back his legs, they embark on a quest to find a magical gem that would complete the spell to bring him back.

These characters are great and they have wonderful voice performances to accompany them. Tom Holland brings that awkward charm, Chris Pratt brings that over-the-top enthusiasm, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus brings that warrior mentality to what could have been a typical 'mom' role. But what really works in this movie is the relationship between Ian and Barley. Their personalities clash, their methods often differ from one another and they don't always agree. An arguing sibling relationship in an animated movie could either feel realistic and plausible and lead to a great redemption, or it could feel extremely forced and really cheesy. Luckily for us, Pixar are the masters when it comes to making films about the human spirit and they really nail the brother relationship. It's the true emotional heart of the movie and it's done really well.

While the basics for a really good family animation adventure are here, there is still room for improvement. Not all the comedy landed as I found it was more targeted for younger audiences and not much for the adults like something you would find in Toy Story or The Incredibles, but there wasn't anything cringe-worthy or lazy. Having the father be a set of legs throughout the movie does provide a couple of laughs, but it doesn't really provide the emotional heart that I think the filmmakers intended as we only know the bare minimum about him before the journey actually takes place. As well as the climax felt very tacked on at the end and didn't feel completely justified or organic.

But those elements don't make the film unbearable to watch, it just keeps it from joining the club of elite Pixar films. Onward still dives into that magic (in the story as well as that Disney, Pixar magic) that us audiences know and crave, and it also delivers us great messages about family, and overcoming fear. If you are looking for a fun movie to tap into that innocence of childhood or a movie that will be fun for the whole family, look no further than Onward.