“Onward” Review
(Left) Barley, voiced by Chris Pratt, assists his younger brother Ian, voiced by Tom Holland, as Ian uses magical spells to cross a gorge in “Onward.”
One thing that is amazing about Pixar is that the animation studio finds unique stories to express basic themes. The importance of family has been the subject of films like “Coco” and “The Incredibles,” but “Onward” takes this message and adds elements of the fantasy genre to create a one-of-a-kind viewing experience for the whole family.
The film takes place in a world populated by fantasy creatures including elves, centaurs and manticores but, because most creatures have given up mastering magic, they live in a modern world with electricity and smartphones.
In this world, two teenage elves named Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley (Chris Pratt), are given a chance to reunite with their deceased father via a “visitation spell.” When the spell goes wrong and only half of their father, a pair of animated legs, is brought back, the pair must go on a quest in a beat-up van to bring back the rest of their father in 24 hours or else they’ll never see him again.
Holland and Pratt are excellent as voice actors and are exceptionally entertaining. Despite having distinct voices, the pair blend well into these characters and create a great dynamic as brothers. Ian and Barley’s chemistry together is perfect and one of the film’s strongest aspects.
Other talents in the film are Julia Louis-Dreyfuss and Octavia Spencer as Laurel Lightfoot, Ian and Barley’s mother, and Corey, a once fierce manticore warrior, who go on their own quest to find the Laurel’s sons and save them from a curse that could hinder the “visitation spell.”
The animation is stunning to look at and can reflect both fast-paced action and strong emotion. This is especially apparent when Ian and Barley talk about their problems. All of that human emotion shines through the computer generated faces of the main characters. Despite being an adventure film, “Onward” isn’t afraid to slow down and address serious issues including what it’s like to grow up without a father.
“Onward’s” environment is one of the film’s best features. The creators of the film make a fantastic location, blending fire-breathing manticores with modern technology which allows the filmmakers to satire elements of the fantasy genre and today’s world.
The humor is very creative and doesn’t rely on jokes making fun of “The Lord of the Rings” or “Harry Potter” franchises. Instead, the film decides to put a comedic spin on elements of classical fantasy. One example is the treatment of unicorns, which are typically shown as majestic creatures in most fantasy worlds. “Onward” depicts them as dirty, insane creatures like racoons which is a hilarious spoof on the fantasy genre.
“Onward” is a great addition to Pixar’s long line of animated films for families. It’s a film that kids will love for its heartwarming story and fun characters and adults will love for its artistry and messages for children.
