Onward

Onward, which is set in a suburban fantasy world where modern convenience has supplanted magic, centers on two elf brothers named Ian and Barley Lightfoot as they attempt to spend one final day with their father, who has passed away. When a 24-hour resurrection spell fails, leaving only his bottom half, the brothers are forced to drive in search of a magical jewel before dusk falls.

As Ian laments his father's absence, the movie deftly examines issues of loss and grief. His older brother Barley has been the father figure he needed, as the conclusion shows, offering a satisfactory resolution free from manipulation. The powerful performances of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, whose chemistry gives the story more depth, highlight Pixar's emotional accuracy. Clever visual humor and a moving indictment of lost magic as a result of progress enhance the scene. The plot is elevated by Barley's role as a flawed but moral core, encouraging themes of bravery and loyalty. The urgency of their father's diminishing presence is highlighted by the film's speed, which creates tension, especially during an exciting highway pursuit.

Despite its creative world-building, the opening twenty minutes of the film are largely expositional, presenting things like the magic system and character interactions in an overly strict manner. Ian's social anxiety doesn't seem like an established trait. The mother of the brothers and a manticore bar owner are voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer, although they lack depth and a steady presence. Both the manticore's persona and the mother's subplot diminish complexity and fall short of enhancing emotional ties. The physical comedy involving the father's legs gets monotonous and constricting, and his lack of voice reduces him to a prop rather than a character. Explicit thematic assertions oversimplify the storyline and lack the subtle approach found in Pixar's best works, and the plot, despite its emotional moments, follows traditional quest frameworks without subversion.

Though it lacks the formal audacity of Soul or Wall-E, Onward is more accomplished than the sequels to The Good Dinosaur or Cars, placing it firmly in the middle of Pixar's oeuvre. The fraternal bond feels unique enough to go beyond the fantasy elements, and its emotional climax truly strikes a chord. However, it falls short of grandeur due to its erratic pacing and dependence on formula. It became an unfortunate casualty of timing when it was released in March 2020, right before cinemas started to close. The film is about finding enchantment in everyday connection, but it was released at a time when connection itself was impossible.

Staff:

Directed by: Dan Scanlon

Written by: Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, and Keith Bunin

Story by: Dan Scanlon, Keith Bunin, and Jason Headley

Produced by: Kori Rae

Starring: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Octavia Spencer.

Cinematography: Sharon Calahan and Adam Habib

Edited by: Catherine Apple

Music by: Mychael Danna and Jeff Danna

Production company: Pixar Animation Studios

Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures^[a]

Release date: March 6, 2020

Running time: 102 minutes

^[a]: distributed under the Walt Disney Pictures label by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.