Pixar’s newest film Onward gives emotional reset
By Jasmine Hernandez
“O” is for Onward. Directed by Dan Scanlon, Disney and Pixar’s new fantasy film tells a tale of two teenage elf brothers going on a magical adventure.
These characters live in a fantasy world, magic was common and used to help people function in the day to day life. Though it was difficult to master because only those with the gift of magic can learn it and it took time, patience, and heart. As the future proceeded technological advances made life easier causing magic to become out of date and no longer useful.
Beginning with Ian Lightfoot’s (Tom Holland) 16th birthday, he creates a list of his goals for the day on his notepad to become a new and better version of himself such as speaking up more, learning to drive, invite peers from school to his birthday party, and be more like his late father.
As the day progresses, nothing seems to be going his way. His older brother Barley (Chris Pratt) is stuck in a fantasy world in his role-playing game, “Quests of Yore” and encourages how it was all once real.
While no one believes in his silly and childish antics, a surprise gift from their father left behind in their attic for both Barley and Ian for when they are older than 16 is mentioned by their warm and loving mother Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
A magic staff with magic in every fiber, along with a red Phoenix gem and resurrection spell are given to the boys to be able to see and speak to their father for a whole day. While this is right up Barley’s alley, he is unable to cast the spell after several attempts because he does not contain the gift. Ian giving it a go casts it but the staff’s power is too much and the gem dissolves before the spell is complete, leaving Ian and Barley with the bottom part of their dad and his legs. This leads the brothers to go on a quest to find another Phoenix gem and complete the spell in order to finally catch up with their dad after all this lost time.
During the journey Ian begins to face his fears of speaking up for himself in front of The Great Manticore (Octavia Spencer), merging into oncoming traffic while running from biker fairies, and discovers his self-assurance through learning to cast spells along the way. When everything seems to not go right and they would not be able to talk to their dad in time, Ian blames Barley, subconsciously seeing him as a screw up. But Ian soon realizes that Barley has been the one there for him all these years as a father figure while he goes through his new checklist for when he gets to spend time with his dad.
Barley is the misunderstood older brother that yearns to be fearless after the experience of his last moments with his father. He keeps this to himself until having a heart to heart with Ian during their journey together. Barley encourages and pushes Ian through the course of the quest by teaching him new spells, teaching him to drive, and to face his self-doubts within himself. He also sacrifices his beloved, unicorn themed van “Guinevere” to prevent the police from catching the boys.
Ian pays forward for everything his brother has done for him through the years by letting Barley see his father before time is up while he attempts to stop the curse from the Phoenix stone, battling a dragon made from parts of his own school. This leaves a heat-warming moment for the Lightfoot family.
Onward is a lighthearted film for the whole family to watch but also touches on serious subjects that gives a realistic notion that not everything can have a perfect ending, not even in a fantasy world.
Losing their father to terminal illness and not having him growing up could be a reasoning to Ian’s self-doubt and Barley’s magic obsession as a coping mechanism. Also having their mother bring in a new male figure in their life could be a difficult transition. But all is not at a loss as the family works together through the journey of the quest and everyday life.
Onward shows the difficulties of loss, teenage struggles, and facing your fears even in adulthood. It shows the bittersweet parts of life that everyone faces in and out of the fantasy realm. People of all ages who watch this film will appreciate the family values, selflessness, and bravery within it.
Onward Photo: Pixar
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