When one thinks of a studio that manages to churn out some impressive works of animation that remains consistent in regards to both visuals as well as storytelling, Disney's/Pixar is generally the first to come to mind. Not only do they continuously raise the bar in terms of their animation, but find ways to tell stories while moving the audience in ways that are both sentimental as well as relatable.
Disney's
Onward proves to be no exception here as the film is impressive visually while telling the story about a pair of siblings, that want to bring their father back from the dead through magic so they can see him again briefly. It helps that the film boasts the talents of
Jurassic World and
Guardians Of The Galaxy's Chris Pratt and
Spiderman: Homecomings Tom Holland, giving the film a mini Marvel reunion with the two talented actors providing the voices of the main characters.
Onward is a Pixar film that has all the right elements in regards to being a charming and poignant adventure, while managing to deliver genuine fun for its audience along with a story that's certain to tug at ones heartstrings. The film proudly claims itself as being the first great animated film of 2020 thus far.
The plot for
Onward centers around a young elf boy Ian (Voiced by Tom Holland) turning 16. Upon doing so, he becomes bound and determined to find way to bring his father back from the dead for one more day to spend time with him after dying when he was young. With the help of his older brother Barley (Voiced by Chris Pratt) along with the combination of a little magic, the two embark on the adventure of a lifetime. The best way to describe the story for
Onward besides being creative and full of energy, is that its charming. The film not only manages to be both fun and hilarious, but feels heartfelt and carries with it the perfect balance of comedy mixed with drama. The combined talents of Chris Pratt and Tom Holland feels perfect as both not only work well off each other, but showcase both strong chemistry as well as possessing terrific comedic timing and heart. On a visual note, the film is as impressive to look at visually as one would expect from a Disney/Pixar film with its stunning animation ultimately making it a dazzling experience for young kids. Although the film may not stack as high as some of Pixar's classics before it,
Onward is hugely entertaining, surprisingly and cleverly funny, visually stunning to watch, and carries with it a large dose of sentimentality with its overall message about adulthood, overcoming the loss of a parent, the strength of two siblings united, and ultimately how everyone can use a little magic in their lives.
One of the main elements that makes the film work so well is the voice acting talents of its main cast. Here they don't disappoint as both the main stars along with their supporting cast deliver both fun and charming performances, that add to the heart of the story. In the main roles, both Tom Holland and Chris Pratt prove to be the ideal matchup as they not only work great off each other in terms of sharing chemistry but feel like actual siblings in the story. Both are charismatic and add doses of humor and humility to their parts. Out of the two roles, Holland gives the stronger performance as young teenage elf Ian Lightfood, whose still grieving over the loss of his father and carries a strong desire to have any opportunity to see him again. Holland conveys all the right emotions for the role making his character both fun and sympathetic with his heartfelt performance. Chris Pratt adds to the fun as Ian's other brother Barley Lightfood, who longs for a magical quest as well as seeing his father again. Both actors do exceptionally well with their voice performances and build off each other's work, showcasing dynamic chemistry while creating a pair of siblings that not only feel down to earth but totally relatable to audiences. As for the films supporting cast, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss impresses as the boys widowed mother Laurel Lightfoot, whose caring and overprotective of them while missing her husband. Octavia Spencer also shines as a Manticore restaurant owner named The "Corey", and former adventurer whom Ian and Barely both go to for help on their quest to bring their father back. Mel Rodriguez also turns in a noteworthy performance as a centaur police officer and Laurels new husband Colt Bronco. The cast of voice actors/actresses as a whole go a long way in delivering the charm and heart the story carries with everyone delivering performances, that add to the fun-spirited nature of the film while providing it with the energy needed to make the story entertaining for both young audiences as well as adults. Each performer helps to sell the story to the audience while not making the emotional core of the story feel forced or overly sentimental. Holland and Pratt possess the right balance of humor and emotion to make their characters believable, as well as their overall chemistry feel natural.
As far as the films directing goes, Dan Scanlon does a solid job of creating an visually enchanting world, that the audience (Young kids in particular) can instantly get drawn into with the films colors and animation both looking top notch.
Onward has a visual style to it that looks just as impressive and grand as any previous Pixar production with the characters in the film looking both real and crisp. On a story structure front, Scanlon keeps the narrative straight-forward and focused with the pacing never slowing down to where the story halts at any point, but keeps the characters moving on their wild yet emotional adventure. Although it may not be the most impressive film to come out of Pixar visually despite the animation being very strong, but what's shown on the screen is appealing enough to enchant young audiences while being accompanied by composer Mychael Dana's emotional score, that aims to tug at their heartstrings without it feeling too forced. What Dan Scanlon succeeds at in regards to directing
Onward, is creating a world that blends the everyday one in animation form with the films surburban world combined with a
Malificent style majestic universe where the films mystical aspects of it's story run rampant in free reign. On that note, he succeeds while bringing to life characters that are totally likable while surrounding them with an atmosphere that's both heartwarming and mature given the nature of its plot. He delivers in terms of meeting both the emotional aspect of the story as well as it's fun nature halfway without either side feeling like they're dominating the film or pulling it towards one side unnaturally. His work isn't the most groundbreaking to come out of a Pixar film, but he succeeds and proves most effective at supplying the energy, the enthusiasm, and the heart needed to make the film work.
The films screenplay also by Scanlon, Jason Headley, and Keith Bunin serves as being thoroughly well-written for the most part with the films themes regarding loss, death of a parent, magic, adventure, adulthood, and role-playing adventure games all go hand in hand together to generate a fairly original and creative concept, which manages to find a life of its own. The writing is done well to the point where the audience can naturally connect with the characters without it feeling forced and get hit emotionally by all the films themes regarding loss and growing as a person, while being enchanted by the mystical aspects of its plot. The relationship between the siblings serves as being the heart and soul of the story with it feeling both natural and realistic as Holland's character appears to be the more mature one of the two despite being younger with Pratt's character being shown to be the more immature and goofy older brother, who may not have it all together in terms of handling his priorities in life but manages to always be there to look after his younger brother with their father gone. At first, Ian is shown as looking down on his brother for being immature but realizes throughout the course of their adventure together how strong of a bond they share as brothers, as well as the fact that Barley has essentially filled the void of their fathers absence in regards to looking after each other. Their dynamic is handled perfectly by the writers with both siblings managing to grow closer throughout their journey. The side characters are fairly well developed and hold up when the narrative briefly shifts away from the siblings with both Laurel and Corey maintaining the fun with their subplot including helping Laurels children from experiencing the dangers of their journey with their subplot paying off satisfyingly in the films third act. On a narrative end,
Onward deserves points for creativity as well as desiring to be original with it's plot. The film aims to give its audience both young and old a genuinely fun and exciting adventure, while also aiming for the heart with the emotional core of its story. The script manages to pull all the right strings with making the audience laugh when encouraged to, as well as being moved by the relationship between the young bothers. The screenplay has a solid bouncy pattern of the movie shifting from moments of laughter to both sentimental and emotional moments, that build up to the films surprising yet tear jerking climax.
Overall
Onward sets out on what it was meant to do which is to entertain the whole family while telling a different kind of story for a Pixar animated film. The film not only succeeds at both but makes it very hard for someone to not walk away satisfied by their experience of watching it. The movie for the most part largely works due to the strength of its charismatic leads along with the visually striking universe that Dan Scanlon created, that will no doubt be appealing to young audiences regardless of whether adults appreciate the films artistic craftsmanship or not. Although not as great as some of Pixar's finest works as some of the story beats my feel familiar to audiences or the film doesn't take enough risk to be more daring with its plot, but it still manages to end up being a pretty strong effort with plot and characters that the audience will unquestionably become invested in and feel something after its over. Pixar's
Onward aims to entertain, enchant, and empower it's main target audience with them succeeding in doing so, while transporting them to a different universe that essentially teaches them about the value of family. The film presents audiences with a different kind of story, though one that no doubt has its heart in the right place as well as making one appreciate the family they still have around them.
Final Verdict: For those looking for an animated film with a unique story, breathtaking animation, and a solid moral compass behind it with a noble message then Disney
/Pixar's Onward is a must see.
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