Onward Movie Review: Pixar's Best? Last updated on February 23 2020 by Cooper Smith

Pixar has made more than twenty feature films. And critics have gotten a chance to watch their new movie, Onward, to see if it's any good compared to the rest. Is Onward better than all of Pixar, and can it compete with other animated classics like Frozen? Should you see Onward when it releases in March? Read on to find out.

Out of all of the Pixar short film and movie list, there have been very few misses. And even when they're not amazing, like Cars 2 or the Good Dinosaur, they're often still okay films. (With superb animation). Pixar has raised the bar for their movie so many times that audiences go in with such high expectations. Plus, it's been a while since Pixar has made an original film (I'm talking about them making sequels like Incredibles 2, Cars 3, Finding Dory, and Toy Story 4). Their last original was Coco, almost three years ago now. So, who knows if they've lost their original, somewhat magical touch? Can Onward hit home with audiences the way most of their films have?

Onward Movie Review

Onward, if you don't know, takes place in a suburban fantasy world. Where unicorns are the equivalent of raccoons, and mermaids take selfies in plastic pools. While Pixar has done movies in the suburbs (Toy Story), and one in a medieval/magical world (Brave), they've never combined the two. And even if Onward will tear the "Pixar Theory" to shreds, a very fresh and unique idea is welcome. The two main characters are blue elf brothers (Ian and Barley) that had their dad pass away at a very young age. A gift on Ian's sixteenth birthday allows them to bring back their dad. But it goes wrong.

The negatives of Onward are few and far between. For one, Onward's plot is not hard to figure out. Similar to the predictableness of Toy Story 4, but it's a kids movie, so we'll give it a pass. Secondly, Onward doesn't reach the highs Pixar is capable of doing. The concept is new, but story-wise, we've seen it before. Also, the dad being a pair of legs is off-putting at first, and it's best just to try to move on from that.

Good thing is there's far more pros than cons. It goes without saying, but if you've even seen the trailer, the animation is spectacular. The landscapes and settings are gorgeous. Facial expressions on the characters, especially in the emotional parts, are so well done. Character designs are fun to look at. And make sure you are prepared. Pixar is known to be able to make you cry. If you haven't cried at a Pixar film, something's wrong. Onward will do just that. The heartstring tugging rarely takes a break throughout the flick. The end will drive a solid emotional gut punch, so be ready for it.

The main four in the voice cast (Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer) are made to seem they were born for this role. Not once will you think about the actual actors behind the voices. It's just Ian Barely speaking. Who's this Tom guy? The mom's storyline ties in nicely as well, and will have you cheering at some point.

Should You Watch Onward?

You should go see Onward as fast as possible. It won't change your life, but by the end you'll be filled with such a wonderful feeling. Make sure to grab your family as well, and sit back and relax. This movie is one worth watching in theatres. However, does it top all of Pixar? No, but it definitely up there. The main problem is Pixar seems to have a formula, and Onward is just a result of that. Is it better than Disney's other films, like Frozen or Tangled? Maaaybe. It's such a close call that it comes down to personal preference. Onward is not perfect, but a good film and will be loved by many.

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