God bless Disney+, for bringing us new Pixar content during this time of isolation. My local cinema had a preview screening weekend for Onward before all entertainment venues were closed down, but alas, I won’t get to see it on the big screen. It makes me nervous when Pixar announce two movies will be released in the same year, with Soul set to come out in November… there is such a saying as too much of a good thing; isn’t one movie a year enough?
Onward is directed by Dan Scanlon and takes place in a world that looks much similar to ours, but is inhabited by ex-magical creatures and used to run on magic. A shy elf named Ian is presented a magical staff on his sixteenth birthday, and a chance to spend a day with his father, who passed away before Ian can remember. Ian casts the spell, that only half works, and so, with the misguided help of his older brother Barley, Ian must go on a quest to find the additional magic necessary to give him his dream day with Dad.
Onward presents a cool alternative universe with a twist. I love the way the movie visually reveals why magic dissipated, with a foolish-looking elf discovering that he may not always be able to perform magic but he can always flick on an electrical light switch. I got some genuine laughs, concerning once-majestical winged horses going through the trash and the terrifying Manticore owning a restaurant. Although, who might’ve predicted the funniest character would be a pair of legs that provide some great slapstick comedy and succeed in becoming personified through leg tapping and dancing. I thought I picked up on the tape recording, that Ian’s father was voiced by Bryan Cranston and so I kept picturing him being the guy behind the legs, which probably made it that much more funnier for me (Bryan Cranston could sneeze and it would be entertaining, so there’s that. I found out that the father character is actually voiced by Kyle Bornheimer and it was honestly a bummer). I wasn’t sure how I initially felt about the Mum getting so much screen-time in the sub-plot that involves her coming to the aid of her sons on their quest, but it paid off ultimately in the showdown with the rock dragon, which I loved for its design by the way – Mum steps on a toy soldier in a doorway just like Andy’s Mum in Toy Story as well; don’t think I didn’t notice that Pixar, very cool.
The movie centres on a young boy drawn to an ideal of the past, which I thought was handled better in Coco. Ian is older that Miguel, and from a different cultural background, but I thought the similarities were there. The story should be praised for its deeper moments though, addressing the boy’s hearts on their dead father, and even stepping in on their views of their step-father, which soften as the movie moves along. It’s often pointed out that cartoon movies like to give our protagonists single-parent families, but it’s rare that we delve into the ramifications of that on the character. Onward also contains a beat about remembering your roots which I’m not sure comes full-circle, highlighted through the centaur and pixies who have become complacent in easier times, and lost the ability to run or fly respectively. The Manticore has also lost her way, valuing customer service over bloodlust and terror (some changes aren’t all bad) – by the end of the movie, magic is not completely reintroduced and it seems there’s still much mysticism under the surface of this society that goes happily ignored, despite the town-square being completely ripped up.
There is one glaring problem with this movie and that is that Barley is not treated as a history buff. The analogy that Barley is a screw-up because he is into games similar to Magic: The Gathering doesn’t completely translate from our world to his, because mystical adventures and magic did once exist in Onward. On planet Earth, you wouldn’t suggest someone who was obsessed with World War II was as daydreamy as someone who lives for Dungeons and Dragons; in this movie the magical world is real and it’s pretty evident early on that Barley knows what he’s talking about. Initially, I thought it might’ve made more sense if Barley was an egghead, a history nerd that embarrassed Ian, especially around the cool kids he tries to invite to his birthday party, but it becomes more evident that Barley must be seen as a screw-up without a future for the movie to work. However, within the context of the movie, Barley is essentially driving around with a glorified racoon on the side of his van, and not the mighty Pegasus as we might interpret in our world. He could teach at university with the history he knows, or at least lead tours at historical sights.
Onward is another buddy-adventure movie from Pixar, where Ian and Barley connect along the way and become best friends. I don’t think there’s a person alive that couldn’t have seen the revelation coming that came when Ian was ticking off his list of things to do with Dad, that he’s always had Barley to look out for him his entire life. But I didn’t see that ending coming, where Ian would give up his chance to talk to Dad for the sake of his big brother – it was so touching, and a genuine bittersweet moment where our characters mightn’t be getting what they want, but it makes sense… as cliché as that may sound. Pixar have a knack for finding new ways to resolve stories that continue to stay fresh and unique. They have excellent writers, what can I say. This one made me appreciate my sister more – I’m lucky enough to have both my parents still by my side, but I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my sister’s strength and guidance; I know that, but I surely appreciate a movie wise enough to bring that knowledge to the forefront of my mind. Well done Onward; best sibling compassion since Bart hugged Lisa on the ice-rink.
Onward falls closer to the Brave end of the spectrum when it comes to crazy Pixar storylines. Pixar’s “Brother-Hood of the Travelling Pants” might be middling for Pixar excellence, but it still provides something new, and unique, and delivers the feels in the final few minutes. One positive thumbs-up and a smile from me.
3.5
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