You can always rely on Pixar studios to put out a quality product. With the exception of two or three titles, most of their material is anywhere from good to classic. Even when you count them out, they somehow sneak up and win an Oscar for Toy Story 4 when everyone thought Klaus would take it. So now Pixar is shifting away from the sequels and into the original content again. Will they reach their incredibly high bar they have set for themselves with Onward? While this is a heartfelt film that has a strong core, it is not on the same level as some of their best. This is a middle of the road Pixar film that will make families happy and send a great message, but also trip over itself.
In Onward, we are brought to a world where magic and fantasies started off everything. You could cast spells and live a free life. Then the centuries go by and we are brought to present day where the times of magic are long gone and the world is now more commercialized. Brothers Ian(Tom Holland) and Barley(Chris Pratt) who live in this world, are given a gift by their mother on Ian’s 16th birthday that allows them to cast a spell that will bring back their deceased father for one whole day. When that spell goes wrong and only half of him comes back, they set out on a journey to complete the spell and see their father before time runs out. From the get go you have a fantastic setup. Those of us out there who have lost a parent would kill for a chance to see them one last time. The filmmakers take that concept and dig on it, the problem is, they just never go deep enough. There is a ticking clock on this story once he comes back but it never feels like the end of the world until the end. There is just something missing.
The plot is my biggest issue with Onward. At the center of it you have this wonderful story of brothers wanting to see their deceased father again. One who has never met him and one who only has limited memories. The problem is that this film can’t ever get out of its own way. Everything with Barley and Ian is great and watching these two air out their grievances and build their bond is truly heartwarming. I do not need the cutbacks to their mom and Octavia Spencer racing across the country to find the kids and stop a curse. Oh that curse. A gem is required to cast the spell and the boys are trying to find this gem that can only be found in one location. Octavia Spencer says a curse will happen with a giant dragon coming to life if this gem is removed. Throughout the film it is established that Barley is an expert at all things magical and spells. He knows of ancient tales and wizards of long ago. So why does he have no idea a curse will be unleashed if he removes this gem? Figuring that out in my head was disappointing because if you do away with the entire curse plotline, this film would be amazing.
While what was previously said is frustrating, that does not takeaway from how sweet other aspects of the film are. Tom Holland and Chris Pratt do some masterclass level work of voice acting here. Holland as this shy teenager who is afraid of the world and Pratt as this bold, confident older brother who is not afraid of anything are wonderful. They have chemistry from the beginning and you can feel it get only stronger as the film goes on. This is huge for the point of the story as the bond siblings share becomes the central theme. They convey that while siblings have ups and downs in their relationships, they are still family and if there is love between them both there is nothing that can break them. There is a ticking clock on this film where the time they have to see their father shrinks as the film goes on so we know it is ultimately leading to an emotional breaking point. When that moment happens, it does not fail and does makes the journey worthwhile.
So while Onward isn’t perfect like some Pixar films and does have plot holes, there is a ton of heart at the center and it is handled with tremendous care. Holland and Pratt are wonderful in their roles and elevate this story to where it needed to be. If you have lost a parent or have a sibling, this film will hit you hard but also make you smile and want to pick up the phone to say “hi” to them again. What more could you ask for?
The Verdict