Onward is the new Disney Pixar movie that stars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, two brothers on a quest to be reunited with their departed father.
Onward is truly one of its kind in the Pixar universe. Those familiar with the franchise are aware of the Pixar theory, the idea that all Pixar movies are set in the same universe but at different moments in time. While I’m sure people will find ways to connect “Onward” to the theory it clearly stands out compared to other films from the storytelling to animation.
It’s great to see Pixar moving in a new direction, after continually releasing sequels year after year. Onward is a solid mid-tier Pixar movie, which for Pixar means a pretty solid story.
Onward answers the question of if wizards in Harry Potter ditched wizardry and lived like moguls (nonmagic folks). The universe is full of a variety of magical creatures from pixies, unicorns, and elves. All of them have completely left magic behind for the conveniences of modern life.
While there is some interesting world-building it lacks in comparison to other Pixar films. It almost seemed too magical, they threw in so many elements at once making it overwhelming. This was especially true at the beginning of the movie were it struggled to gain its footing.
The film really hits its stride when Ian and Barley team up to leave on the quest to find a gem that will restore their father for one day. The twist is that when Ian originally attempted the spell he was only half successful only managing to produce his father from the waist down. They then have 24 hours to get to the gem before their one-shot is gone.
The small moments set the film apart from a standard adventure epic. Ian and Barley’s brotherhood is placed front and center in a relationship that is both goals and relatable. A highlight is when Ian mistakingly shrinks his older brother, leading to not only a great comedic scene but also establishing key parts of their relationship while moving the story forward.
Tom Holland (Ian) and Chris Pratt (Barley) have worked together in the past in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Holland plays Spider-Man and Pratt plays Star-Lord from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Their established relationships are obvious because their personalities were able to bounce off each other with ease. Despite only recording once in the same room, the voice acting only makes you more involved in the world.
Hollands character Ian could not be less interested in magic, and on the flip side you have Barley who seems to be the last person in the world to see it’s value. Despite this when Ian’s character is revealed to be the one to have magical powers Barley is nothing but extastic for his little brother. This decision is what puts there relationship over the top.
The trope of the jealous sibling has been done time and time again. A jealous sibling is not only not interesting to audiences but often unrealistic. In a common healthy sibling relationship, they truly want nothing but the best for each other. So Barley’s raw enthusiasm and support for Ian throughout the movie did nothing but establish a more compelling relationship between the brothers.
Pixar isn’t afraid to show to showcase the hardest parts of human life. Coco (2017) centers around coming to terms with the end of human life. They don’t dumb down their content for children because they know that kids can handle more than most people believe. They have the same fears as everyone else and by handling a subject like grief they are able to show a truly healthy way of viewing the problem.
Onward shows that Pixar is always worth your ticket. Despite a rocky first act, the story comes together to get you on the edge of your seat and thinking about it for a long time afterward.
The movie brings something different to all ages. Anyone with siblings should see this movie for a great portrayal of a healthy and slightly awkward brotherhood.
You can check out our podcast episode of onward here to here more of our thoughts.
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