A Reel Review: ONWARD

In the last decade or so, famed animation studio Pixar has been stuck in sequel-mode; cranking out entertaining, yet inessential follow-ups to their hits TOY STORY, THE INCREDIBLES, CARS, and even FINDING NEMO. Recently, the studio that once revolutionized animated storytelling has made a new commitment to making original films, with its first effort coming in ONWARD. 

In a fantasy world where magic has faded, elf-brothers Ian (Tom Holland), and Barley (Chris Pratt), inherit a magical staff and a spell which can bring back their deceased father for one day. When the spell goes awry and only the bottom-half of their father returns, the two brothers embark on a quest to obtain what they need to perform the spell correctly. 

In any fantasy setting for a film, world-building is essential. The world established here takes shape in the opening minutes and works right away. Despite being a world populated by elves, unicorns, and centaurs…modern technology has taken over and rendered magic and the beings that wielded it a thing of a long-forgotten past. This works right into the two brothers, with Barley longing for those days and Ian being the only one of the two who can work the magic staff. 

Once the two brothers start their quest, good times are had and the characters come to life nicely. Barley is the slightly obnoxious older brother who would enter the room by giving everyone a noogie, and Ian is the awkward teenager who can barely drive a car. With Barley driving the quest ahead, thanks to his extensive knowledge of role-playing fantasy gaming, the two brothers find their own reasons for bringing back dad; Ian never knew him and Barley never had his chance to say goodbye. It’s a family story combined with a teen-comedy and road-trip movie, and the many elements click together nicely. 

Director Dan Scanlon, who contributed to Pixar’s sequel/prequel legacy with MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, manages to make ONWARD a fun, and slightly surprising ride as he digs into the brotherly love with that familiar, yet workable Pixar style of tugging on the heart-strings. The film swings for the fences on the emotional front, and connects most of the time. The pacing is brisk and the laughs are nearly non-stop, making for one of Pixar’s funniest and energetic films in their extensive catalog. 

Acting is tremendous. Tom Holland and Chris Pratt are perfectly cast, and it helps that their characters resemble their real-world faces. Julia Louis-Dreyfus voices their mom who is hot on their heels and is also very good, and she shares most of her time with Octavia Spencer, who comes in as a manticore. 

The finale is an emotional one-two punch, with both brothers getting closure in their lives and setting themselves up for a brighter future. In true Pixar style it ends on a high note, and the journey to get there is more than worthwhile. It’s appropriate that Pixar’s new era would begin with ONWARD, as it’s a film about shedding the past and moving forward…which is exactly what Pixar needs to do. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it