Onward

Onward is an exhilarating 2020 animation film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film boasts a star-studded cast providing voices for the characters, including prominent actors like Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. This enchanting tale conveys a touching story filled with humor, warmth, and heart-wrenching emotional depth, crafted around the fascinating world of fantasy.

The film introduces the audience to a vividly imaginative universe, once filled with magic, mythical creatures, and enchanters. The world that we find in Onward, however, is a vastly modern one where these ancient mythical wonders have faded into the background. Today, it's a place not too different from our reality—where unicorns forage in trash cans, centaurs are law enforcement officers, and traveling by plane is more convenient than flying on a dragon.

At the center of this story are two elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt respectively. Ian is a high-school teenager; shy, awkward, and somewhat nervous, desperately wishing to have known his late father who passed away when he was too young to remember. His older brother Barley is quite the opposite – loud, kind-hearted, and endearingly enthusiastic, often drawing from his extensive knowledge of the role-playing board game 'Quests of Yore' which, according to him, is rooted in historical facts of their own world.

The real story of Onward starts on Ian's sixteenth birthday when their mother, voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, hands them a gift from their late father. To their astonishment, it's a wizard staff, a mythical gem, and a spell with the power to bring their father back to life for just one day. After a botched attempt at this rare spell, they inadvertently conjure only half of their father, the lower half, starting the clock on a race against time.

So begins a hilarious yet heartwarming quest as the brothers embark on a wild adventure to procure another mythical gem to complete the spell and bring back the rest of their father before sunset. Thrown into the mix are several interesting characters they meet along the way, each bringing a great deal of charm and humor to the story.

The animation in Onward is spectacular – detailed and colorful, creating a vibrant world that is a perfect blend of fantastical elements and modern-day reality. The screenplay is smart and firmly rooted in emotional intelligence. This, along with the first-rate animation and voice performances, particularly from Holland and Pratt, helps the film hit all the right notes emotionally and comedically.

Furthermore, the film beautifully expresses themes of brotherhood, coming of age, grief, and acceptance. Ian and Barley's relationship is the beating heart of Onward, and it's their bond and rapport that propel the story forward, adequately peppered with alternating bouts of humor, excitement, and heartfelt emotion.

Despite being set in a parallel universe filled with magical creatures and fantasy, Onward taps into very real and universal emotions. The exploration of loss and longing, the quest for closure, and the appreciation of what we have are all themes that resonate deeply with audiences of all ages.

The director, Dan Scanlon, who previously directed 'Monster University' for Pixar, has done an excellent job at ensuring that the movie maintains an engaging pace throughout. Both exciting and emotional, Onward takes the viewers on a rollercoaster ride of feelings, drawing them into the magical world while also hitting close to home.

On the whole, Onward is a thrilling, emotional, and laughter-filled journey that is sure to be a hit with both children and adults. The film’s intriguing fantasy elements, top-notch animation, heartfelt storytelling, and the superb voice performances by its leads make it a must-watch. Prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey filled with wonder, magic, and the enduring power of love and family with Onward.