Onward (2020)

 

You know how Pixar loves to tug at your heartstrings? Like: really hard at times? 

Well, they do so in abundance here, but not in a way you might think. See, this film has probably the biggest trope of any Disney animation in that one of the parents is dead, but along the way you get a story about how you sometimes forget that certain people have been there all your life and you might need to appreciate them more.

You also get a fun adventure that will definitely have a lot of wink-wink moments for fans of either fantasy and/or roleplaying games, even though those things usually coincide.

Set in a universe where fantasy creatures are very, very real and very, very urban, we meet the Lightfoot family. The father has died a long time ago and Ian Lightfoot turns 16. He's a socially awkward kid with a boisterous and game-obsessed older brother and a mom who is doing her very best. But Ian still longs to talk to his dad, even though he never had the chance. But when he receives a magical staff, he manages to resurrect his father.

Well, his bottom half, anyway. To complete the spell, he needs another special gem, so Ian and his brother set out on a quest to have at least a few more moments with their father. And as you would expect, they learn a few things along the way.

What really makes this work, is the dynamic between Tom Holland and Chris Pratt. Especially the latter is darn good and uses his comedic timing to near perfection. Besides that, his character of Barley is just a really likable doofus with a golden heart. Overall, the voice work is pretty stellar here, with another shoutout to Octavia Spencer as The Manticore. 

You might also appreciate just how great the animation looks. Maybe not noticable on a first watch, but the details are pretty staggering. The way how the light shines through Ian's ears (he's an elf), for example. Or how the Biker Pixies (yes, that is a thing) shine and sparkle, which is subtle at first but then goes out in full swing once they rediscover they can actually fly... This entire film is bathed in gorgeous colours, as to reinforce the magic of this world. 

Nice.

The final hurdle in the quest is also a nice subversion/change from a classic foe. No spoilers this time. 

Does it have the same classic status of say, a 'Toy Story'? Probably not. It's a little light on the memorable dialogue or truly heartwrenching moments (even though the final reuniting with the dad is excellently done), but it is still a solid entry into the Pixar library.