Onward Movie Review
Most people tend to view animated movies as “just for kids” fare. As a huge fan of animated movies, I’m never sure whether to take that as a compliment or as an insult. Onward is the latest animated flick from Disney and it’s enjoyable regardless of what age you are. As a new subscriber to Disney+, I felt my first movie on the streaming platform should be Onward. The description didn’t intrigue me much to be honest with you: “Two elven brothers embark on a quest to bring their father back for one day.” Elven brothers?
The movie begins by explaining that the world used to have magic, hence the elven brothers. But as other inventions took off (electricity, cars, etc.) magic, which was difficult to master, was mostly forgotten. In this world there are unicorns, fairies, elves, dragons, and all manner of magical creatures living amongst each other. They live mostly as humans would. They have jobs, cars, live in houses, and own pets.
Onward focuses on the Lightfoot family. Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is busy raising her two teenage sons, Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley (Chriss Pratt). Ian is a shy teen who has trouble fitting in and hasn’t truly found himself yet. Barley is the complete opposite. He’s obsessed with magic and is un-apologetically himself, even when it causes issues for Ian.
On Ian’s birthday, Laurel presents him with a gift from his now deceased father. It is a staff that was used when magic was practiced in the world. Ian’s dad has left instructions for a spell that will bring him back for one day. Ian, who never really met his dad, is excited by the prospect of spending a day together. Barley, who has a few memories of his dad, is equally as anxious to bring him back. But while performing the spell to bring their dad back to life, something goes wrong.
The rest of the movie follows the boys on a quest to find a way to fix the spell and bring their dad back fully. What truly touched me about this movie was the brotherly bond Ian and Barley have. Much of that can be owed to the chemistry between Holland and Pratt. Both of their voices were cast perfectly in these roles.
It is such a heartwarming tale of brotherly love and familial love in general. Like most of Disney’s movies nowadays, there aren’t any new or groundbreaking animation techniques. What makes the movie good is the story line. This one highlights the bond of brothers who embrace both themselves and each other by the end. If you’re looking for unique animation, you won’t find it here. But the journey is fun and the elven brothers just might make you smile.
Film or Movie: Movie
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like fantasy worlds
2. You like animated movies
3. You like coming of age stories that feature siblings
