While fun and danger accompany the journey, it’s only fitting that Pixar makes this a story about family. Ian feels incomplete because he never had a father to play catch with or go on long walks and talk. Now having only half-a-dad becomes a point of ultimate frustration, but they find a way to connect with a few taps of the shoe. After their father’s death, Barley turned pain into confidence as he took on the man-of-the-house role. Somehow bringing dad back for even just a moment becomes a point of closure.
As I think about it, Onward is following its standard brand of Pixar storytelling. They can do it because it works. They tell a vast story, build a giant world, and wrap it around a simple story packed with heart and emotion, and arrive at a devasting gut-punch of an ending.
The world of Onward is big and beautiful, indicative of the decades of technological advancements Pixar has created on their own. Like the past movies, the landscapes and surroundings are gorgeous and look photorealistic. As a bonus, it’s all in the world of fantasy. That said, I’m not a fan of the character design here. Though Disney tends to lean toward “cute” and “marketable” when developing characters, Onward just doesn’t seem cute enough for me. I like cute, so sue me. It feels like its inspiration comes from Hercules and the underworld of Hades. I understand this is a style preference, and others may 100% disagree with this criticism.
“It also was not lost on me that I was taking my kid to see a ‘dead dad’ movie.”
But like the Fast and the Furious, Onward is about family. Ian and Barley are the perfect Disney brother duo (has there been another brother duo in a Disney film?). Holland and Pratt feel like brothers (can RDJ play the dad?). They are enough alike and different to come from the same gene pool. Both have their personal insecurities to overcome, which can only be done with the help of the other bro.
There’s also the last few minutes, which left me blubbering like a baby. I hate you, Pixar. It also was not lost on me that I was taking my kid to see a “dead dad” movie. Thanks for that too.
Onward again sets the standard for animated features that I wish every studio would strive for (see Sonic the Hedgehog). Pixar is notorious for working a story over and over again until they get it right. You can never say the writing is lazy. Connecting with audiences by surgically opening their chest to touch their heart is a prerequisite over every story they produce (yes, Cars too).
You expect excellence from Pixar, and excellence is what they deliver in Onward.
"…Holland and Pratt feel like brothers (can RDJ play the dad?)"
