So, the internet is even more depressing these days, right? As a breeding ground for the opinionated, I could bore everyone with my reactions to current events. My fears, feelings on how things were handled, and reaction to isolation could be sent to the cyber world for criticism. But let me be real. I don’t have the stamina. Instead, I’d rather focus on a bright spot. The early release of Onward via Disney+ streaming. If I’m being honest, recent attempts for virtual entertainment have elicited eye rolls from me. But this is different. This is a great film that doesn’t deserve to fall into obscurity. This is a film I’ll be watching the minute it’s available on April 3rd.
In true Pixar fashion, the film’s premise gives new life to its subject matter. The two main characters, Barley and Ian, are Elvin teenagers who live in a world of magical creatures … who have no interest in actual magic. Straying from the “spellcasting disappeared because humans feared it blah blah blah” setup, this world lacks magic for the simplest reason: technology. Once electricity was discovered, the creatures lost interest in mastering their special abilities and instead started driving cars, running vacuum cleaners, and using smartphones. On the night of the younger son’s (Ian’s) sixteenth birthday, both him and his brother are given a special gift from their late father. The gift includes a staff and a spell that will resurrect their father for twenty-four hours. Naturally the spell doesn’t go as planned. The spell only brings back half of their father, and Ian and Barley must find a way to complete it before the timer runs out.
For a plot that sounds like kid-friendly Weekend at Bernie’s, the film was better than it had a right to be. And that’s for many reasons. First of all, the voices are expertly cast – with the anxious, timid Ian being played by Tom Holland and the boisterous, jovial Barley being voiced by Chris Pratt. Other vocal talent includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus as their warm-hearted mother and Octavia Spencer as a winged lion bear scorpion creature… (See the irrefutable definition of manticores.) The film is rounded out by high-quality animation, a whimsical score, and an adventure that doesn’t have excessive build-up.
As far as how the adventure unfolds, Onward doesn’t punch you in the gut like Up, but it doesn’t let its characters off easily either. The fast-paced jokes and chase sequences give way to the heart of the film, which in true Pixar fashion, is to appreciate irreplaceable things. You will cheer on Barley and Ian as they grow into more confident young men and your heart will ache when they grieve what is lost. You will see pieces of yourself on screen.
During Onward’s short theatrical run, there was initial criticism for the environment. While films like Zootopia featured lavish and inventive worlds, Onward looks like suburbia. And I think that’s the point. This lack of creativity in their town reflects our bland strip-mall society. I’d even argue that this blasé setting grounds the characters. Even when magic is reintroduced, the characters still have to deal with all too familiar problems. Sometimes things just don’t work out and tragedy can derail us at any moment. Ian and Barley’s journey to find joy in unexpected places will give viewers solace. Look past the ridiculous plot because this is one relatable film.
So, for anyone who didn’t catch Onward at the beginning of March, this is a much-needed opportunity. Treat yourself to a film that, despite its underwhelming trailer, will feel like a much-needed hug. Couldn’t we all use one?
To Each His Own 