MOVIE REVIEW: ONWARD

Two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, go on an journey to discover if there is still a little magic left out there in order to spend one last day with their father, who died when they were too young to remember him.

Director: Dan Scanlon

Cast: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer

Release Date: February 29 2020

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements

Runtime: 1h 42min

Review:

Onward is a fine addition to the Pixar catalogue even if it’s not quite a classic.  Dan Scanlon does some solid work with a fun bit of world building using all types of D&D creatures.  It makes for a fun journey through this gentrified mystical world.  Most scenes are full of gags and jokes making it a rich and vibrant world.  At its center are Tom Holland and Chris Pratt who both are perfectly suited for their roles.  They work well together and really give the film its heart which drives the whole thing.  Julie Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer have a fun buddy comedy side story going which makes the film even more enjoyable.  The story itself is fairly basic even though there is a healthy bit of heart in it.  While there is plenty to appreciate all around, the film is kind of forgettable.  Pixar films are usually so memorable when one doesn’t quite leave a lasting impression you are left wondering why it didn’t work as well as it should have.  That’s not to say that Onward is a total misfire, because it’s not, but just that it didn’t quite reach the level of Pixar’s prestigious back catalogue. 

B