'Onward' A Review

Onward is an animated family fantasy movie about a Ian Lightfoot(Tom Holland) and his quest with his brother Barley(Chris Pratt) to complete a spell to bring their deceased father back for a day. The movie opens with an overview of a recognizable fantasy world that through the difficulty of magic and ease of machines becomes one similar to ours. On his 16th birthday Ian receives a spell and staff to bring his father back but is only able to bring back his dad's lower half. Him, his brother, and their dad's pants go on a quest to complete it and maybe learn something along the way!

The voice cast isn't bad but it is mostly uninspired, with the casting of Holland and Pratt it almost seems to be constructed from a Disney algorithm rather than a creative project- Marvel stars check, fantasy creatures check, parental tear jerking ending check. There is certainly significant fault from the script but other than a few moments of brill animation(the concrete dragon, cheeto boat) the movie is a mish-mash of elements sewn together with the clear intent to capitalize on various tropes and trends rather than create something particularly entertaining or original.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Ian and Barley's mother and Octavia Spencer as the Manticore are the real bright spots of the story but they are relegated to the B-plot and not given much to do. There's also a wonderful cameo from Tracey Ullman as a pawn broker which is great but those moments of actual excitement and flashes of uniqueness mostly function to cast the more rote aspects in sharper relief.

A very resounding 'meh' from Pixar. Available on most VOD platforms for purchase, available on Disney+ to stream.

Stream It.