Film Review - "Onward"

Onward
Directed by Dan Scanlon
Starring Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus

I firmly believe during this pandemic, it's important to not get caught up in all the news updates. There's so much being thrown out at once, and honestly it's not all equally accurate, nor pleasant. So you should take some time to escape into some positive media. That can be an unread book that's been sitting on your shelf for sometime, a new show to binge on Netflix, or just some films.

There's plenty of films to take in, either streaming or on your DVD shelf, but access to any new releases is going to be pretty limited for now. However through The Mouse's good graces, it released Pixar's latest film Onward, on Disney Plus early, for everyone to view from the safety and comfort of their home.

I recently watched it myself and let me tell you...this film was like a gift. Onward is top-notch Pixar.

Onward takes place in a world full of magic and fantasy, but nowadays magic has taken a backseat to modern technology. The film focuses on two elf brothers, Ian being the youngest (Holland), and Barley the oldest (Pratt). Ian is right in the middle of his teenage years, lacking self-confidence and struggling to find himself. Barley is a goofball lost in his roleplaying games and magic history.

On Ian's sixteenth birthday, their mother (Dreyfus) gives them a birthday present from their late father, whom Ian has no memory of. The gift is a "visitation spell", which when cast, will bring someone back to life for 24 hours. Unfortunately, they don't get the spell quite right, and they only bring back the bottom half of their dad (Think like a magical Weekend at Bernie's). However Barley believes he knows where they can get the magical items they need to cast the spell again. So the two brothers set on a quest to complete their spell and see their dad before time runs out.

Onward follows the basic Pixar film formula. There's two leads who don't quite see eye-to-eye, and they have to work together to get somewhere, achieve a goal, etc. But as the studio has proved time and time again, it's not the formula it's what you do with it. Dan Scanlon draws on his own personal experiences to deliver a real-life story, set in a fantasy world. The relationship between Ian and Barley is so well-written. Ian loves his brother but can be annoyed or embarrassed by him. Barley is all about fun and adventure, but is Ian's biggest cheerleader. It's as complex and layered as a brotherhood like this should be.

Ian and Barley are brought to life perfectly by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, who both have shown before they can balance comedy and drama seamlessly. Arguably I think Holland gets more of the drama and Pratt gets more of the comedy, but undoubtedly they both turn in killer Pixar performances. They play together incredibly well, and make you wonder if Star-Lord & Spider-Man will share more scenes together in the eventual Avengers 5. One thing I will say though is Pratt's Barley does take some time to getting used to, because at first he's all about his mythology and jokes, and embarrassing anyone sharing a scene with him. But much like another Chris Pratt character, Andy Dwyer on Parks & Recreation, he gets more dimension as time goes on, and it's not long before you're rooting for him.

As far as the supporting cast, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss has a lot of great moments as their mother Laurel, and plays a pretty active role in the story. Octavia Spencer is almost unrecognizable as Corey The Manticore, and you can tell she is having a lot of fun. Personally I really enjoyed Mel Rodriguez's Colt Bronco, the boy's centaur cop stepfather.

Pixar once again turns in some spectacular animation. It's amazing how much detail goes into the littlest thing that they end up actually looking real. Things that really stood out for me were like the lighting, especially in the sequences when they're driving on the interstate. The fantasy side of things are okay, like the character designs aren't groundbreaking or as "inventive" as the creatures in say Monsters Inc. but they're fine. Honestly it was really cool seeing Pixar tackle the fantasy genre. The quest is very enticing, and the film is entertaining from beginning to end. Some of the situations the boys get into are very creative. While I don't want a sequel to Onward, I wouldn't mind seeing more of this world in a future Pixar film.

That's really all I have to say about Onward. I had a great time with it. It's a very sweet, fun film, that in typical Pixar fashion, will have you shedding a few tears before the credits roll. It's a beautiful story not just about the relationship between brothers, but the relationships we have with the people who always support us, and the times when we have to support them. Pixar have always been master storytellers, but I think this story about brotherly love and being there for one another, came at the right time.

We're in a rough period right now. Life as we know it has completely changed, and we're cut off from one another. It's pretty grim out there, and I think Onward is a nice reminder of the love, and the "magic" that's still there. Even though we may not be able to physically be there for one another, we still can be in our thoughts and our actions. So yes, I am thankful Disney put Onward on Disney Plus a little early, and I hope everyone out there can take some time to share it with their family and friends from the comfort and safety of your home.