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Review Rewind: Onward

by Daniel Andrade

Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures
When it comes to great partners, many examples come to mind: peanut butter and jelly, Batman and Robin, Mario and Luigi, etc. But this list would be incomplete if it didn’t include the greatest entertainment partnership of the last 25 years: Disney and Pixar. They have a practically perfect track record when it comes to their collaborative efforts thanks to the incredible way they are able to craft emotional stories that impact viewers both young and old, all while showing off their impressive animation skills. They always find a unique way to tell such moving stories, and Onward is no exception. Thanks to its recent release on Disney+, I was able to watch it in the comfort of my own home.

Onward shows us what would have happened if all the classic fairytale and mythical creatures we know were introduced to the modern technologies we are all accustomed to: the internet, electricity, social media, cars, smartphones, etc. The question it posits multiple times throughout the film is: does magic still exist in a world where science has made our lives so much easier? This kind of peculiar premise is where Disney/Pixar movies shine and where their creativity is truly put to the test. Seeing once-majestic unicorns now reduced to raccoon-like pests, or a mermaid slacking off in an outdoor pool scrolling through her phone, or a dragon frolicking at home as a domesticated pet, is charming and inventive, and makes what was once a mystical world seem much more familiar and relatable. Disney/Pixar movies always find a way to really connect you to the characters they create and the worlds they live in, whether it’s bugs from a traveling flea circus or emotions living inside our minds, and they do that brilliantly here as well. It’s a clever way of making you think about how corporations and technology have disconnected us from the world we live in; how many of us have given in to the urge to post a picture of a beautiful sunset on Instagram instead of just experiencing it for ourselves? I know I certainly have been guilty of that. Another beautiful thing about this movie is that even though actual wizards and spells exist in this universe, we come to realize that magic can be found in something as seemingly simple as your family.

As incredible as this modern-day magical universe is, the movie is truly about the relationship between two brothers. Tom Holland (Spiderman: Homecoming/Far From Home) plays the younger brother Ian Lightfoot, a studious, awkward boy who is about to celebrate his 16th birthday, which has the same meaning as it does in many cultures: a transition to manhood. Holland has shown in his previous role as Spiderman that he plays a lovable awkward teen incredibly well (perhaps because he’s had his fair share of awkward moments in his actual life!), and thus is perfect in this role. He lives with his older brother Barley, played by Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Lego Movie, Jurassic World films). Barley is a role-playing game fanatic and history buff who can’t help but embarrass his younger brother and seems to always get into trouble. This seems to be the kind of character that Pratt plays pretty well also, so he too is a great fit for his character. It’s like a cross of Andy Dwyer character from Parks and Recreation and Emmet Brickowski from The Lego Movie, both of which are affable goofballs that you can’t help but root for, even when they are clearly making some questionable decisions. The chemistry that they share together is delightful and reminded me of the relationship between myself and my younger brother, one that is full of laughs, squabbles, frustration, and forgiveness. The “quest” that they go on together, which is one part road-trip and one part magical adventure, is full of hilarious and heartwarming moments that will certainly have you crying by the end of the film.

As wonderful as this film is, it’s hard to place it within the Top 5 of Disney/Pixar films for me. While films like Coco and Up captivated me right from the beginning, it took me a while to fully appreciate this movie. By the end of the film, I was totally engaged and crying, but up until that point, I was getting adjusted to this world and these characters. Barley is a very in-your-face character and hard to appreciate at first, and some of the other side characters feel just like that: characters that aren’t too important or relevant to the rest of the story, whereas some other Disney/Pixar films either completely focus on their main characters or develop a great supporting cast (Toy Story is more than just Woody and Buzz, whereas Wall-E is mainly centered around Wall-E and Eve). Regardless, this is still definitely worthy of your time and I will be rewatching this film multiple times in the future!

CONCLUSION: Onward is a magical film in more ways than one that shows the power of brotherhood. Its inventive vision of a modern-day mythical universe is packed with fun little details that really make you appreciate the work that went into crafting this story. Holland and Pratt work incredibly well together as brothers and leads to a powerful, moving conclusion that will leave you teary-eyed.

FINAL SCORE: 4/5

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