Pixar is kicking off its 2020 with the first of two original movies, Onward. Since releasing their first feature-length film in 1995, Pixar has amassed a following of fans who appreciate the studio’s unique ideas and ability to craft meaningful, touching stories. In recent years, Pixar has divided its attention between sequels to their established properties and original ideas. Now, after two sequels, the animation studio returns with an original film in Onward, which tells the story of two elf brothers who go on a magical quest to complete a spell that would let them spend a day with their dead father. Onward is a good, but not great Pixar movie, with a heartfelt, if emotionally manipulative storyline, and plenty of film magic to propel it forward.

With a script by Dan Scanlon (Monsters University) - who also serves as the film’s director - Jason Headley (A Bad Idea Gone Wrong) and Keith Bunin (Horns), Onward follows a fairly standard road trip/magical quest storyline. Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley (Chris Pratt) are average teenage elf brothers living in a world where magic has been all but forgotten in favor of technology. But when they receive a wizard’s staff left to them by their long-dead father and a spell to bring him back for a day, Ian learns he has a propensity for magic. However, when the spell goes slightly wrong and only brings back their dad’s legs, the brothers will have to go on a quest to find a Phoenix Gem so that they can finish the spell and spend as much time with their father as possible. But, of course, they’ll run into plenty of magical hijinks along the way.

The story of Onward is pretty basic, but it does epitomize what Pixar movies do well: Take a heartfelt, if simple storyline and set it within a magical world - whether that’s a story of someone figuring out their place in the world told through toys coming to life or a pair of brothers getting the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet a loved one using magic. Pixar has a proven track record of combining a good story with fantastical elements to create movies that fill audiences with wonder. But while the best Pixar movies can distract viewers from the machinations going on to get an emotional or awed response, Onward isn’t as good at hiding the nuts and bolts, so that when the heartfelt moments arrive, even if they strike a chord with viewers, they’re easily recognizable as emotional manipulation. It’s largely forgivable, and won’t take everyone out of the story, but Onward does noticeably lean on tugging on heartstrings to make up for a thin plot.

But though the story may not be very strong, Onward does feature well-developed characters and a wholly magical world that turns our own on its head. The premise for the setting of Onward is what if our world of technology evolved from a time when magic was real and the land was populated by creatures like centaurs, elves, satyrs and cyclops. It makes for a world that is both familiar and different to our own, and it’s entertaining to see how the filmmakers think pixies and a manticore would evolve. But what truly carries viewers through the world are Ian and Barley, and their complicated brotherly relationship. For their parts, Holland and Pratt bring plenty of heart and humor to their roles, and their dynamic is no doubt bolstered by the fact that the actors have worked together before in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Still, they slip easily into the roles of Ian and Barley so that viewers are able to forget the famous faces behind the elf brothers and focus more on the characters’ journey through this fantastical setting.

Ultimately, Onward is a delightful and magical road trip movie about brothers finding common ground with each other as they figure who exactly they’re meant to be. It’s a testament to Pixar’s form, even if it doesn’t push those boundaries at all, choosing instead to play it safe and tell a simple story that relies perhaps too much on emotional manipulation. That said, it’s easy to get carried away in the film’s manipulation, going along for the ride with Ian and Barley even if it’s a more conscious decision that fans of Pixar may be used to. The pacing of Onward is such that audiences will barely feel that two hours have passed by the time the credits role, as the film so effectively immerses viewers in the story and world and keeps it moving. It’s a fun ride, so long as audiences let themselves get swept up in the magic of Onward.

As such, Onward is perfect for fans of Pixar, delivering an entertaining and enjoyable time at the movies, especially for those already interested in the Dungeons and Dragons style premise of its world. Onward may also win over those not entirely sold on what’s already clear from the trailers is a rather thin story. The fun magical hijinks and heartfelt family storyline will hook viewers in and take them on a delightful adventure. While Onward may not be the strongest Pixar movie, it still delivers on everything fans have come to expect from an animated film produced by the studio; it may become a new Pixar favorite for some viewers, but won’t leave a lasting impact on many others. In the end, Onward delivers a charmingly magical and genuinely heartfelt adventure movie that’s sure to entertain the whole family.

Next: Onward Movie Trailer

Onward is now playing in U.S. theaters. It is 114 minutes long and rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements.

Let us know what you thought of the film in the comments section!

  • Onward Release Date: 2020-03-06