Onward (2020)
Pixar is known for its rich characters, gorgeous visuals, and imaginative stories that feature emotional depths not reached by most animated films. When compared to the likes of Up, Toy Story, Wall-E and Inside Out, Onward falls short. It’s funny and has the emotional complexity we expect - towards the end - but overall isn’t as carefully thought-out as it should be.
In a world inhabited by centaurs, elves, pixies, satyrs and other mythical creatures, magic used to be commonplace but ha been replaced by modern-day appliances and technology. Timid Iandore “Ian” Lightfoot (voiced by Tom Holland) and his role-playing, magic/fantasy fanatic brother Barley (voiced by Chris Pratt) receive a spell from their late father that will allow him to return for 24 hours. Unfortunately, their attempt at the spell goes awry. Now, they have to find a magic gem to complete the enchantment before it’s too late.
As in all of Pixar’s films, you can see the money at work. The visuals are terrific. In the backgrounds, you’ll see funny fantasy versions of famous brand names or gags that clearly show the animators and set designers were passionate about this project. You’ll find laughs aplenty as the two brothers go on a modern-day version of a Dungeons and Dragons quest, complete with deadly traps, puzzles to be solved and strange monsters each given their own twist.
There’s a lot to like, particularly the ending, which is smart and mature. Despite this, the overall quest feels askew. The fairytale setting is more like a gimmick than a necessity. Seeing centaurs driving cars and elves doing aerobics is a nice gag but it's not enough for a whole movie. Compare it to Disney's Zootopia, whose animal cast were symbols for gender and race but also worked as anthropomorphic creatures with unique traits. There are missed opportunities in the premise, and in the side story with the teen's mom (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) searching for her sons with the help of Corey (Octavia Spencer) the manticore. Details about the adventure are sloppy. We learn the gem the boys need is protected by a curse but when we see it unfold, it isn’t really a curse; more of an additional defense against thieves. Structurally, Ian and Barley’s father is another missed opportunity. Their first attempt at bringing him back yields unexpected and amusing results for the audience but it means the film has to drag a non-character along with them. Barring the scenes where good use is made of the “half-a-person” visual, he doesn't serve much purpose.
Onward is preceded by a short animated film starring Maggie Simpson of The Simpsons. Like the main feature it accompanies, it’s ok but I don’t think it’s anything you’ll be coming back to frequently. While it may be a disappointment compared to what we expect from Pixar, if you go in with lowered expectations, you'll have a great time. (Theatrical version on the big screen, March 6, 2020)