About the film (courtesy of Disney•PIXAR):
Set in a suburban fantasy world, Disney and Pixar’s Onward introduces two teenage elf brothers who embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there
One thing that really sets Onward apart from the majority of animated films is the emotional weight that it brings with it but it’s not like we haven’t seen it before. Going all the way back to Disney’s Bambi (1942), we all felt the early onset gut punch that it introduced. In more recent years, some really solid examples are Coco (2017), Big Hero 6 (2014), Toy Story 3 & 4 (2010, 2019), Inside Out (2015) and probably the biggest tearjerker, Up (2009). This special thing about all of these titles is that the experience stays with you long after you’ve finished watching the movies. You will undoubted have similar “feels” upon watching Disney•PIXAR’s latest offering.
I consider Onward to more of an emotional hand grenade, in that some of the stuff doesn’t hit you immediately. And depending on your background and own personal experiences, you may gravitate to different characters than the person next to you. Director and writer Dan Scanlon provides a modern day Fred Rogers aka Mr. Rogers vibe with the way his art subtly turns into a teaching tool for both young and more experienced. Who am I kidding, this movie is going to be way more emotional to adults.
The human voices behind the two main characters, Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley (Chris Pratt), bring a lot laughs in another Disney-owed commodity and things are no different here. Holland and Pratt provide lighthearted humor along with densely felt emotions over the 102 minute runtime. Thankfully there’s much more to laugh at than to sniffle about. Onward will keep the kids entertained while allowing adults (not unlike myself) time to wipe away any errant tears. Other talented actors lending their voices are Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Lena Waithe, Ali Wong, Tracey Ullman, Wilmer Valderrama and John Ratzenberger.
It should come as no surprise that Onward is solid in its presentation, content and tight casting. There are many lessons to be taken from seeing this film and, assuming your kids want to drag you back for an encore performance, I’m quite sure that it’ll not only maintain its value, but you’ll probably enjoy it even more. That was certainly my case. You can check this one out in theaters everywhere right now and maybe think about packing a few extra napkins or tissues…for the buttery popcorn, of course.
