Once upon a time, the world was filled with magic and wonder. But that was “once upon a time.” Nowadays, the world is dull and boring and routine. For Ian Lightfoot (Tom Holland), school is a drag, the dog, err, dragon is a hyperactive pest, and older brother Barley (Chris Pratt) loafs about listening to too much hair metal and playing tabletop role-playing games. But then a magical staff and an incantation spell show up, and all hell breaks loose. Ian’s dad was a wizard, which means Ian might be one too. And, if Ian can find a Phoenix Gem and say the spell correctly, he’ll be able to summon the dear-old dad he never got to meet. Onward is a rote story, but Pixar tries to jazz it up by setting it on a fantasy planet populated by elves, pixies, dragons, and manticores. The jabs at soul-consuming commercialism work well, as does an exhilarating chase down a freeway, but with so little at stake, the desire to see the Lightfoot brothers succeed takes a backseat to the stunning visuals and detailed animation. If you’re hankering a game of catch with dad, Onward will tug on those heartstrings. If you’re not, then at least the pictures are pretty.

Onward (2020)
Directed by Dan Scanlon
Screenplay by Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, Keith Bunin
Produced by Kori Rae
Voices by Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Rated PG, Running time 102 minutes, Opened March 6, 2020

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The above blurb first appeared in the pages of Boulder Weekly Vol. 27, No. 29, “Onward.”