*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
Pixar Animated Studios are at their best when they're telling original stories that have an emotional impact. This statement was proven with one of their previous features, Coco, which went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 90th Academy Awards. While their recent sequels, including Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4, have been successful, with the latter winning the Best Animated Feature Oscar at this year's Academy Awards, Pixar's latest feature, Onward, further proves my earlier statement.
Onward is set a suburban spin on a fantasy world, where teenage elf, Ian (voiced by Tom Holland) and his brother Barley (Chris Pratt) inherit a wizard's staff, charged with enough magical power to bring their father back to life. But when the spell goes disastrously wrong, Ian and Barley must set out on an epic quest to bring the rest of him back – meeting a menagerie of mythical creatures along the way.
With Onward, the director, Dan Scanlon, has created an adventure filled animated film that is never anything less than fun and entertaining for the majority of its 103 minute runtime. Scanlon previously directed the prequel to Monsters, Inc., Monsters University. Although I enjoyed it, I don't think it shows Pixar at its best. Onward is an improvement over Scanlon's previous feature as it provides viewers with an original and heartfelt story co-written by Scanlon, Keith Bunin and Jason Headley. Within their story, they've included themes of grief and brotherhood which are both effectively highlighted in Onward. Scanlon was inspired to write the story after hearing an audio clip of his late father who passed away when he was younger. Scanlon grew up with an older brother and based Ian and Barley’s relationship on the one he had with his brother. This is why their relationship is effective as it feels real and I’m sure that those who grew up with a brother will be able to relate to Ian and Barley.
Because their father died before Ian was born and when Barley was young, they want more than anything to meet him, even just for a day. On Ian's sixteenth birthday, they are given that opportunity when their mother presents them with a gift left by their father which turns out to be a magical staff containing a phoenix gem. They immediately use a spell to bring their father to life but only succeed in bringing the bottom half of his body back. This leads to the brothers going on an adventure together to find another phoenix gem in order to fully bring their father back to life, however, they only have twenty four hours to do it. Viewers who have had a family member or loved one pass away will be able to relate to Ian and Barley's determination to bring their father back to life. I think that, if we had the chance to bring back someone we loved from the dead, we would take that chance.
I think that Onward will resonate more to those that have grown up with a brother as Ian and Barley’s relationship is effectively captured. Although Barley is a few years older than Ian, the brothers are very close, however, their relationship isn’t perfect and there are a few times in Onward where the two have a small falling out after Ian unintentionally hurts his feelings. However, with the help of their father, the brothers are able to overcome their differences. Onward succeeds in capturing that of a relationship between brothers that is realistic and effective. Although I have older brothers, I’m not super close with them so I couldn’t relate to the main characters, however, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying it.
Onward features a strong voice cast, with Holland and Pratt standing out. Holland perfectly captures Ian’s awkward and introverted personality. Pratt is equally as impressive and delivers an energetic and lively performance as Barley, whose big personality is in contrast to Ian, who is shy and finds it difficult to make friends. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer are amusing as the brothers’ mother, Laurel, and Corey, a manticore restaurant owner who Ian and Barley go to for help on their quest. I’ve seen quiet a few comments regarding the subplot, that sees Laurel teaming up with Corey in order to find her sons, as unnecessary and distracting from the main narrative. For me, I enjoyed the scenes involving Laurel and Corey and found them to be an amusing pair, especially the latter. I didn’t realise she was was voiced by Spencer until halfway through Onward.
Although Onward features elves, wizards, dragons centaurs and pixies, their world is very similar to ours, in terms of technology. Instead of using their wings to fly, pixies are seen riding motorcycles and aren’t as friendly as they appear to be. Laurel’s boyfriend is a centaur and a police officer who drives a car, instead of using his legs. Because technology has become so advanced, there is no need for magic, however, Ian and Barley’s journey proves that magic does still exist.
With the majority of their animated features, Pixar have created original stories that have left an emotional impact. This is the case for Onward. While, for the majority of its 103 minute runtime, it’s an adventure film, we’re hoping that it ends with Ian being able to meet his father. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen and Ian only sees his fully formed father from a distance before he disappears. This scene is touching and will definitely move viewers to tears as it’s sad knowing that Ian will never meet his father. While the ending is sad, it’s also realistic. Ian and Barley spend their journey hoping to bring the father back to life, however, it leads to Ian realising that, while he never had a relationship with his father, he had his older brother and he appreciates their relationship more.
With Onward, Pixar have created an animated feature that is full of adventure and features strong vocal performances from Tom Holland and Chris Pratt.
8/10
I think that Onward will resonate more to those that have grown up with a brother as Ian and Barley’s relationship is effectively captured. Although Barley is a few years older than Ian, the brothers are very close, however, their relationship isn’t perfect and there are a few times in Onward where the two have a small falling out after Ian unintentionally hurts his feelings. However, with the help of their father, the brothers are able to overcome their differences. Onward succeeds in capturing that of a relationship between brothers that is realistic and effective. Although I have older brothers, I’m not super close with them so I couldn’t relate to the main characters, however, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying it.
Onward features a strong voice cast, with Holland and Pratt standing out. Holland perfectly captures Ian’s awkward and introverted personality. Pratt is equally as impressive and delivers an energetic and lively performance as Barley, whose big personality is in contrast to Ian, who is shy and finds it difficult to make friends. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer are amusing as the brothers’ mother, Laurel, and Corey, a manticore restaurant owner who Ian and Barley go to for help on their quest. I’ve seen quiet a few comments regarding the subplot, that sees Laurel teaming up with Corey in order to find her sons, as unnecessary and distracting from the main narrative. For me, I enjoyed the scenes involving Laurel and Corey and found them to be an amusing pair, especially the latter. I didn’t realise she was was voiced by Spencer until halfway through Onward.
Although Onward features elves, wizards, dragons centaurs and pixies, their world is very similar to ours, in terms of technology. Instead of using their wings to fly, pixies are seen riding motorcycles and aren’t as friendly as they appear to be. Laurel’s boyfriend is a centaur and a police officer who drives a car, instead of using his legs. Because technology has become so advanced, there is no need for magic, however, Ian and Barley’s journey proves that magic does still exist.
With the majority of their animated features, Pixar have created original stories that have left an emotional impact. This is the case for Onward. While, for the majority of its 103 minute runtime, it’s an adventure film, we’re hoping that it ends with Ian being able to meet his father. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen and Ian only sees his fully formed father from a distance before he disappears. This scene is touching and will definitely move viewers to tears as it’s sad knowing that Ian will never meet his father. While the ending is sad, it’s also realistic. Ian and Barley spend their journey hoping to bring the father back to life, however, it leads to Ian realising that, while he never had a relationship with his father, he had his older brother and he appreciates their relationship more.
With Onward, Pixar have created an animated feature that is full of adventure and features strong vocal performances from Tom Holland and Chris Pratt.
8/10
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