ONWARD

    Taking place in a world that resembles ours, Onward tells the story of two elf brothers trying to bring back their deceased dad for one day, and so they go on a mystical quest to find a lost treasure that will help them.  
  One of the brothers has a fascination with board games and fantastical adventures, and he takes this opportunity to live out his fantasies of being a warrior on a harrowing journey.  He clearly represents all of us nerds who have enjoyed playing games together and bonding over stories involving dragons, orcs, and great heroes.  However, he has a hard time bonding with his brother, who is the polar opposite and doesn’t share the same enthusiasm for fantasy adventures as his sibling.  He’s shy and has a hard time finding a place of belonging, but he tries to fit within the modern world, not caring about make-believe stories.  So obviously, they get into some shenanigans, learn to love each other, make the audience cry, and end their journey with a lesson for everyone.  You know, the Pixar shtick.
   The heart of the movie (or hearts in this case) is with Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley Lightfoot (Chris Pratt).  Their journey together is an endearing one.  Even though I couldn’t relate to their brotherly struggles, I understood wanting to see their dad one last time.  If I was offered the chance to extend my time with my dad for one more day, I probably would go on a crazy, magical adventure too.  I feel as though this movie is more for adults than kids, like Up.  It’s themes of life, death, and the emotional bond that ties family members together is heavily explored here, and kids may not have the understanding to fully appreciate the story.  That’s ok because we adults want good cartoon movies too!
     The animation is exemplary as usual, though it’s not as visually appealing as say Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, or Wall-E.  Having fantasy creatures running around a suburb or a school just doesn’t feel as exciting as seeing what lurks beneath the ocean waves or the ruins of Earth.  It feels almost bland.  Whereas Cars and Monsters, Inc. had a similar concept, they gave the modern setting its own distinct look and feel, but here, it didn’t seem as creative.  At times, it felt like I’ve seen this before.  It still looks great though, and the characters all have their own distinct animation, making each one stand out from the others.  
     Onward is a timeless romp through a fantasy world filled with excitement and laughter.  It’s very much a reminder of why so many people love Dungeons And Dragons, The Lord Of The Rings, and other fantasy classics; there’s something about this particular genre that creates a bond between people.  We imagine ourselves in the bootstraps of dashing knights and fanciful elf princesses, and we create special memories sharing our love for imagining the impossible, like going to conventions, playing a game together, or reading a bedtime story.  But Onward reminds us that the most precious thing about this genre is not the magic and wizardry; it’s about the time we spend with the ones we love.  You know, the Pixar shtick.