Pop Quiz – what was the last bad full-length Pixar film you saw? I’ll wait…still waiting…a few more seconds…ok, time’s up. No answer? Exactly and that indicates the type of excellence we’ve come to expect with every Pixar release. Onward, Pixar’s latest effort to be the Gary Clark Jr. strumming away on our heartstrings, is the story of brothers Ian and Barely Lightfoot and their race against time to obtain a magical stone to complete the spell that will resurrect their deceased father for a limited amount of time. The narrative is ripe for a feels trip but does this film meet the Pixar gold standard? It’s no Toy Story, Inside Out, or Coco and that’s ok because Onward still hits home like only a Pixar film can.
Tom Holland and Chris Pratt make a good duo as the aforementioned brothers. Holland, voice of the younger brother Ian, brings a blend of youthful awkwardness and enthusiasm that instantly makes you root for his growth beyond his disastrous attempt to invite classmates to his birthday party. He also brings a sensitivity to the film that serves as a constant reminder of void Ian feels due to only knowing his father through pictures and other people’s anecdotes.
Pratt, the voice of magical adventure game obsessed Barley, is easily Onward’s brightest star. As the film’s primary comic relief, Pratt’s well-timed quips gives Onward the lift it needs to avoid being buried by the moments of mourning the Lightfoot Brothers experience throughout their journey. However, Pratt’s most impressive feat is the depth he shows as Barley also serves as the source of the film’s most heartfelt moments and important lessons. Between the constant encouragement of Ian, the seemingly game-focused but more than meets the eye “tips”, and his own moment of clarity, Pratt’s range affirms Barley is more than comedic fodder.
The only issue with the Holland-Pratt duo is redundancy as their Onward characters make you feel as if you are watching both actors reprise their Marvel Cinematic Universe roles as Spider-Man and Star Lord given the similarities in the characters’ personalities and they’re journeys to move forward without their parent(s). That issue goes a bit further for Holland because he was also this same kid who lost his parents at an early age in last fall’s Spies in Disguise. However, it’s not enough to sink the brotherly bond that is sure to have you texting or calling your loved ones as soon as you walk out of the theater.
Writers Dan Scalon (who also directed the film), Jason Headly, and Keith Bunin do not break away from the Pixar formula. They give us the lovable characters, the mission/journey, and the emotional climax we’ve seen in every Pixar release. That being said, the film’s handling of death and grieving incorporates real life experiences in a way other Pixar films that approached the topic could never pull off.
The film’s diversity also gives it a bit of a twist not seen in previous Pixar releases. Yes, it’s set in a world with various mythical creatures, but seamlessly integrating characters such as an openly gay cyclops police officer and a female manticore who has her own business and wears a natural hairstyle without making them token was a sight for sore eyes. Visually, Onward is average and does not offer the wonderment you would expect from a film so heavily rooted in magic.
Onward will not make you change your ranking of films in the Pixar catalog. It doesn’t reach the heights of the classics, but its combination of strong performances from the Holland and Pratt duo, realistic handling of death and its emotional aftermath, and subtle but impactful elements of diversity easily places Onward among the better recent family film releases. No need to see this one in a premium format because everything that wows about it comes from the story and an emotional place. So yes, I highly recommend seeing Onward and giving your folks a call when you’re done.
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