Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
You know my friend, we living times that we love hearing about fantasies, fairy-tales and many others that we like to talk about or even grew with when we're kid. Though we never have fairies, unicorn, elves nor everything, cause we're living in modern life with cars, TV, video games and more technologies around the world, but sometimes we question ourselves, why not both with modern (aka suburban) and fantasy together?
"Onward" is a 2020 animated urban fantasy film by Pixar. With written/directed by Dan Scanlon, produced by Kori Rae and co-written by Jason Headley and Keith Bunin.
Though when we first heard about this movie, it was quite unexpected or even unheard of having a fantasy world in suburban theme. Personally, im quite fascinated and curious what this one going for, specially for a surprised cast choice that they brought two members of MCU. However, the movie has a very complicated start that one, there's a controversy involving one character that il talk about it later, and two, the movie will probably have a low reputation at the box-office, mainly because of the outbreak of Coronavirus that it made me sooo much anxious that it seriously needs to stop the virus quickly before the end of the world. Sorry for my panic, but this is something im very concerned if we're still not saved.
So, with all that said, will this movie bring back magic from Pixar, or was the film's idea won't work for the spell.
Well, lets find out.
The Story
Since this is a movie with mixed between fantasy and urban, you'll think if this movie could be be creative and promising what we like, right? Well, it kinda did, but would've been.
It started on the origin where we begin with mythical creatures and magic for great respect and challenging. But the challenging of mastering of magic started to get harder and harder, as they found something new, it was called "Technology". As a result, everyone started to get interested on systems than the magical based on the difficulty. Fast forward for several years later, we introducing two elves teens, Ian and Barley, where they live with their mother Laurel and their centaur father Bronco since their late father Wilden died from severe illness. But at one day during Ian's birthday, Laurel brought a gift to Ian that happens to be a staff from the late father, which Barley was anticipating that it also including a Phoenix Gem. That is until Ian accidentally calls upon the magic to bringing his father back, but the resurrection wasn't as good enough that Wilden only appears with legs. Its up to Ian and Barley find the way to get another gem in order to bring their father back for 24 hours limit.
When it comes to the setting, im very appreciated what they came up with modern theme with fantasy, its nice and rather creative that i mentioned before. But story-wise, it isn't that perfect, its basically story about finding the way bring back the old days and even Ian is gonna be the future magician in New Mushroomton. Its basically another movie where a kid from the late father is trained becoming hero, but despite the cliche, it has a nice execution where Barley helping his young brother to teach to becoming a magician like his father did before, so i though, since i assuming Wilden worked as an accountant. Despite the adventure, but the movie is probably mainly focus on Ian himself, since we like to rooting for him since his unlucky start since he grew to 16, which is understandable for his character development, even though it's kinda done before, which il get to the characters later on. The movie also has a subplot to having Corey the Manticore for the help of location or even the curse, which is rather unsure if its on purprose at the plot or not, which i won't spoil for more detail for the purpose of Corey. As for the humor of this movie, well i gotta say, it has some fun moments in the film, specially for some moments that i always laugh, despite the humor works well (because come on, its Pixar), but it does have a heart with father and twin relationship, since they hope to see him again, but pretty difficult due to his unfinished appearance. But yes, i am aware that idea was based on Dan Scanlon's life when he really missed his father, which is sadly understandable that his father's might be haunting him before he got the idea.
Even though the story aren't as good what we expected, but the execution sometimes work with creative setting and having a big brother as a mentor instead of either a teacher or part of parents like mother or father.
The Animation
Since this is Pixar movie, the animated movie's presence is always look good right? Well, i think so.
For starter, the background setting is pretty fascinating thanks to its creativity of mixed between modern and fantasy, which again, i like the idea, it makes looks fascinating and imaginative, sure it's kinda cliche for some other concepts like say, the use of mushrooms as a house, which it kinda looks like they borrowed the idea of Smurfs, but that's my own nitpick of ideas.
Another fascinating of the movie is of course, the animation of the visuals and quality, it looks amazingly colorful with fantasy elements, an impressive effects of magics and some nice character designs. Even the character's animation are also pretty for the movements where some are move like human being or some moves like animals, like the obvious centaurs with move like human and horse. And lastly, the soundtrack of the movie is well-composed, some nice beat and even beautiful, which is nicely fit for modern fantasy themed movie.
Even though the characters looks pretty good, but i have another nitpick, some of the character designs feels like they're borrowed from either previous Pixar movies or the other animated movies outside of Disney/Pixar, such as some of them has a similar look with nose designs or perhaps the most obvious is Ian looks like the elf version of either Walter Beckett from "Spy in disguise" or perhaps Arthur from "Arthur Christmas".
Even though it may have some issue of its presentation, but it still looks pretty good as a Pixar film.
The Characters
With the characters in the movie, we expected that its gonna be another Pixar film with likable characters that we can related, right? Well, its somewhat close.
First we have Ian Lightfoot (played by Spider-Man himself Tom Holland), he's easily the main focus that he wanted to starting his new life during his 16th birthday, by spicing his life be like a real adult, like getting a new friends, driving or even sharing, despite he's unprepared for his lack of confident. But as i said before, he was being a big deal to becoming a new magician like his father what his brother like to helping him to bring back the old days. Even though he's rather flawed, but il give a credit for Tom Holland that he did nice work for his voice acting.
Speaking of brother, we have big brother Barley (played by Star-Lord himself Chris Pratt), even though he maybe used as a comedic character, but he's more believable elf, since he always like to bring back magic from the old days thanks his passion of RPG game. I find him a very fun and related character in the movie, since like him, many people love RPG so much to becoming a RPG Geek they like to show us the elements, whether we like it or not. With Star-Lord as a passionate RPG brother, its pretty fascinating and likable in the same time.
Although its obvious the main focus as Ian, Barley and maybe Wilden (partially voiced by Kyle Bornheimer), the rest aren't as mainly deal and less appearance, for the most part.
We have Laurel (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who's a widowed mother she somewhat cared and good respect to Ian, Corey (voiced by Octavia Spencer), who's big and kinda badass Manticore when she used to, and Colt Bronce (voiced by Mel Rodriguez) a police centaur and a new father.
Although the one that i might like to talk about is Specter (voiced by Lena Waithe), who's another police officer with an interest development that she lives with her girlfriend and her daughter, which is quite of surprised that she's in fact Lesbian. But of course like the remake of "Beauty and the Beast", the movie suffered a controversy with homophobic reaction yet again, they several countries as either rewrite in the dub or just straight up banned in several countries. I mean im so sick of hearing the homophobe reaction, this is so old and sickening to me over and over. Like come on guys, its 2020, its time to bring the acceptance LGBT, instead of jumping the same BS for many decades, as always, enough is enough, people...!
Aside the controversy that i just can't take it so hard, the characters are rather fascinating, despite that the rest aren't as very good enough, and not to mention, its another film that there's no villain, which is disappointed that i would've expected to see another RGP geek, but as a scavenger, but thats just me.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, Pixar's "Onward" is pretty good movie, but i don't consider as a perfect film, it just comes off as rather weak like "The Good Dinosaur", the story is good for say the least, with some execution is impressive, the animation is always great looking, for the most part, the soundtrack is beautiful and the characters are fascinating and kinda related, even if the movie has a small list of the characters.
For my recommendation of this movie, i'd say you guys just give a watch once if you're curious if you're a fan of Pixar like me. But if your a fan of fantasy with modern theme, i'd say its for you. But like i said, its not the biggest embarrassment that Pixar has ever done, but at least they tried for another imagination.
Oh wait!! I almost forgot about the short! Surprisingly, this is the first time we have a short before the film that was not made by Pixar. It was called "Playdate with Destiny" by 20th Century Studio (Yeah, they get rid of "Fox" name from the studio, but thats a different story). I gotta say, its a pretty cute short i've ever watch featuring Maggie Simpson who really wanted to have a love interest, especially in silent. Even though its been a long years since i was away from "The Simpsons", but nice touch. Il give it a 8/10.
For my rating, im gonna give this one a 7/10. Man, three movies to go that i gave above average ratings...
Anyway, so this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
