SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
With imaginative aesthetic, solid story and earnest performances, Onward wins you over and proves Pixar’s staying power.
Though owned by the remake-infested Disney Studios, Pixar thankfully is sticking to its pledge of making original films. Onward, like many Pixar films before it, explores the dynamic of a family headed by a single mother (timely for International Women’s Day). Although it might not blow your socks off in the same manner as some of the studio’s better films, this sibling road trip movie proves that the Pixar brain trust can still make something to tug at your heartstrings. It deals with relatable issues such as teenagers’ anxieties about fitting in with their peers, their struggle to build an identity for themselves, and dealing with the absence of a parent; transporting them all to a charming fantastical setting without diluting the film’s emotional core.
In Onward, Pixar takes us to an oddly quasi-human land of mythical creatures that have, over centuries, abandoned the ‘magic’ they used to wield in favor of more modern and convenient inventions; instead of using an illumination spell for light, they now use light bulbs. We follow Ian (Tom Holland), a mild-mannered teenage elf who wants to fit in with his high-school classmates and his older brother Barley (Chris Pratt), a fun loving, independent young adult who proudly builds his own van and playfully re-enacts tales of ancient magical history. On Ian’s 16th birthday, their mother Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) opens an old present their father gave them before he died: consisting of a magic staff, a gem and a magic spell that could resurrect him from the dead. Ian manages to bring back the bottom half of his father’s body. When they also discover a map leading to the rest of the gem, the two brothers Ian and Barley, along with their Dad’s bottom half sneak out on a magical adventure to find the other gem and bring their Dad back whole.
The road trip format is the perfect way to have the brothers interact meaningfully with each other while also delivering entertaining action sequences. Ian, who initially is afraid of driving, overcomes it when his Dad's resurrection is at stake. Barley is tested on his ability to stay positive and keep calm in stressful situations. Laurel also embarks on a road trip to find her sons with Corey the Manticore (Octavia Spencer), a half-lion half-dragon who is inspired to leave her boring life as a restaurant manager and become the mighty beast she once was. Both Dreyfus and Spencer have marvellous chemistry, benefitting both from excellent writing and each other’s talents when it comes to bringing the laughs.
Onward is a great watch for your kids for the qualities it can teach: courage, empathy, and positivity. For better or worse, Pixar’s tried and true formula of using conflict and compromise is what lends the movie its emotional punch. For kids with siblings especially, this movie can be a heartfelt and instructive experience. As his second time playing a high school student, Tom Holland gets the job done and then some, but Chris Pratt as Barley is the standout. His mature, adult voice simultaneously exudes a playful charm and a veiled insecurity that makes him perfect for the role.
Onward’s animation conforms to most people’s expectations, which might disappoint Pixar enthusiasts. But there are bold, wacky character designs that may surprise you; inspired choices that pop off the screen. Examples are the centaur police-man and the biker gang of pixies and an evil dragon made of brick and cement, which I couldn’t help but think was a metaphor for corporate studios that tend to dispassionately favour rigid formulaic films. As a whole, it comes across as a decent attempt by Pixar to say that they’re resisting the impulse to conform.
Despite the fact that I had a lump in my throat during the climax, Onward fell short of fully opening the floodgates. The only reason for this was the slightly excessive dialogue during moments that should have let the emotions breathe in silence. But even though Onward doesn’t reach the same level as Pixar’s better movies, I see it as an exercise that keeps their storytellers sharp and reassures me that Pixar will continue to entertain us for years to come.
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