Onward

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com

I always struggle to find reasons to dislike a Pixar film. One of the most annoying preconceived notions about genres is the one about animated movies. "They're for children, how can you enjoy stuff like that, you're so childish", people say. Little do they know that animated flicks have as much or more emotionally compelling narratives and characters than live-action films. The score is usually more important in the former genre, and the visuals always look stunning. The partnership Disney-Pixar is probably the best thing that could have happened to Hollywood.

Dan Scanlon delivered a surprisingly good sequel to Monsters Inc. back in 2013...

Animation has such an important job. The messages I was talking about earlier are not just intended to teach kids things - we learn from them too. I think that's what made 'Onward' a little disappointing: I didn't come out having learned something new in the context of my adult life. Nonetheless, it's still a lovely allegorical tale that promotes brotherhood, adventure and generosity. Animation's got a big duty of shaping up future generations from a young age, and they can't always deliver the goods for all. With that, I sign off - eagerly awaiting Pixar's next drop where, fingers crossed, I get to discover something new too... don't forget the big kids, Pixar.

• Lily Meek

Read Lily's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/a...

Onward is a family quest that delights (Boom Bastia!) and pulls at your heartstrings along the unpredictable Path of Peril. There is a delicate balance between tear-jerking moments and comic relief that Pixar and Disney have been known to master throughout many of their films. If you can look past the Pixar and Disney blueprint of the missing family member tragedy youll find many successful attempts to modernize the film to relate to many ages and families.

Read the full review at FeaturedAnimation.com.

Unicorns, pixies, elves, and wizards have lost the magic of the past in Onward, a formulaic animated adventure from Pixar. Set in a suburban world of fantasy, the film tells the story of two teenage brothers who embark on a quest to find a magic gem that could hold the key to a little familial enchantment.

Ian (Tom Holland) and his older brother Barley (Chris Pratt) are still mourning the death of their father several years ago. Ian was just a baby when he died, and Barley barely has any memories of his dad. When mom (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) gives Ian a gift that his departed pop left for his 16th birthday, it turns out to be a wizards staff with instructions for a visitation spell that can bring the patriarch back for one day only. Somethi...

Chock full of contrivances and just straight up contradictions, both which annoyed me to a pretty severe degree, but there was enough cutesy stuff in my lane to keep me from actively disliking it. Not a fan of the naming convention though.

Final rating:½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didnt quite work as a whole.

Solid.

I enjoyed 'Onward'. It sets up a cool world filled with intrigue, whilst also having a heartwarming story and good lead voice actors. It doesn't, at least for me, hit every hearty note it attempts but you definitely end up caring for the main two characters.

Tom Holland (Ian) and Chris Pratt (Barley) are a smart pairing, they work together nicely. I don't love those around the Lightfoot brothers, the stuff with Laurel and Corey isn't all that interesting even if Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer are fine choices as their voices.

Overall, a good watch.

This is my kind of action animation. Two elves go on the hunt for the teeny weeniest bit of magic that might just enable them to catch up with their late father who passed away before they really got much chance to know him. What they didn't do before they set off on their quest, though, was tell mum ("Laurel"). She's narked - and worried - so elicits the help of the powerful "Manticore" and sets off in hot pursuit. It's good fun this, from start to finish. The combination of a strong adventure story full of myth, magic, peril (and totally devoid of romance) is complemented by some super animation and some wonderful creatures - including the hybrid scorpion/lion/eagle creature travelling with their almost as menacing mum. The script is ente...