Vulture Reviews: Onward

(SPOILER WARNING)

Seems like it's time for my very first animated movie review! I'd figure I would start off with something simple, so let's begin with the very first big animated movie of the new decade. Which is none other than Onward! I was really excited for this movie when the trailer was released since Pixar is knon for doing something incredible with reused concepts, such as Monsters Inc and Inside Out. So I was intrigued when they were going to tackle the concept of fantasy creatures in modern society. How does it match up to most other Pixar films? Well...

Positives-I love the way this movie is designed. While that is to be expected from Pixar, the way this movie utilizes its color palette like the way it uses blues and purples, really helps the movie have a unique and distinguishable look. There are also a lot of clever little details in the ways medieval fantasy and modern civilization are combined. Something else this movie does partly well is the emotional bonding between Ian since they can have very heartwarming and relatable moments and it feels like a real brother relationship. However, there is one thing that really holds this relationship back, but I'll get into it later.

I have to give credit to both parents in the film. Starting with the mom, it's cool how she plays a big part in the plot and isn't just the generic mom who's just left behind. She's justifiably worried about her sons and does whatever she can to make sure they're safe. As for the Dad legs, it's amazing how much personality was able to expressed through the movements of a disembodied pair of legs. And there are lots of great moments between the legs and the brothers. But without a doubt, the best thing about the movie is the ending. It does a fantastic job of tying up the movie together and was wonderfully built up to.

Negatives-The big reason the emotional moments are severely held back can be described in one word, Barley.

I HATE BARLEY

It's hard to say certain emotional moments work with how unlikeable this character is! The movie says that he wants to see his dad as much as Ian does, but I don't by it. With the choices he makes it feels like he cares more about living out his D&D fantasies than helping Ian achieve their goal. Especially with how he says they should take the long route instead of the quick expressway because it was "too obvious." Other times he is just facepalmingly stupid. I know he's supposed to be a screw-up, but there is a line between being clumsy and being a complete moron. Like with how he just went up and talked to the dangerous bikers.

There is another huge problem with the film that holds it back, and that's the movie being BORING! There are a ton of tired cliches that make several plot points completely predictable from top to bottom. Like with how Ian is the awkward loner that learns how to be more social. And Bronco is the mom's boyfriend that the boys don't like, but learn to accept him. Plus certain plot points are incredibly contrived and forced, like the part where they disguise as Bronco and the disguise fades away whenever Ian lies, and that's how Barley learns that Ian thinks he's a screw up. C'mon, really? Top it off with pointless action and so-so humor, and that makes a lot of this film is a slog to get through.

Overall-I don't find Onward to be a bad movie since there's a lot of really good stuff in here, like great animation and a lot of heart. However, I can't say I like this film due to the boring plot and weak execution. Which is a shame because it's blatant that a lot of effort and passion was put into it. Definitely not my favorite Pixar film, but eh, I'll take it over Cars 2 any day.

6/10