Onward (2020)
Director: Dan Scanlon
Screenwriters: Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley
Starring: Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Octavia Spencer, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Lena Waithe
“Long ago, the world was full of wonder. It was adventurous. There was magic. But it wasn’t easy to master. So the world found a simpler way to get by. But I hope there’s a little magic left in you.”
Onward marks Pixar’s return to original storytelling after several years dominated by sequels. Following the success of Coco in 2017 and the sequel features such as The Incredibles 2 (2018) and Toy Story 4 (2019), director Dan Scanlon—who previously helmed Monsters University—brings a heartfelt, family-oriented fantasy to the studio’s 2020 slate. The film blends modern suburban life with a rediscovered sense of wonder, creating a world in which magic and mundane technology exist side by side.
The story centers on two elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot. Ian (voiced by Tom Holland) is shy and uncertain, while his older brother Barley (voiced by Chris Pratt) is boisterous, obsessed with local lore, and fiercely devoted to the idea that magic still matters. When they discover a spell capable of bringing their late father back for only 24 hours, their hopes ignite. Predictably, the ritual goes awry, launching the brothers on a time-sensitive quest to set things right. The urgency of the mission drives the emotional core of the film, while the differences between the brothers provide the heart and humor.
Set in the small town of New Mushroomton, the film imagines a community that has traded its mystical past for convenience and screens. Scanlon and his creative team use production design to wonderful effect: the town is packed with whimsical creatures, leftover relics of a magical age, and everyday suburban details. That interplay—an animated world where dragons exist but people also check their phones—creates many of the film’s visual and comedic delights.
Barley’s passion for history and fantasy is embodied in his devotion to a role-playing board game called The Land of Yore. That game provides not just laughs but also a thematic throughline: a love of stories and imagination as a way to connect to family and heritage. Barley’s encyclopedic knowledge of myth and folklore often steers the quest, while Ian’s quieter courage grows into something real and affecting over the course of their journey.
One of the film’s standout sequences is a visit to The Manticore’s tavern. Once a fearsome fortress, it has become a novelty restaurant in the present day, where the fearsome guardian Manticore (voiced by Octavia Spencer) now runs a themed dining experience. The contrast between the tavern’s legendary past and its current tourist-trap incarnation is an example of the film’s gentle satire and its ability to entertain both children and their parents with layered jokes.
Onward is also notable for its inclusive casting and representation. The film features Pixar’s first self-identifying LGBTQ+ character in the form of Officer Spector, voiced by Lena Waithe, and presents a strong, independent mother in Laurel Lightfoot, voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. These characters enrich the world and reflect a wider range of family experiences without detracting from the central brotherly bond that defines the story.
Visually, the film is a pleasure: bright, detailed, and packed with imaginative creatures and environments. The animation team blends warm, emotional expressions with lively action sequences, making the film enjoyable to watch for viewers of all ages. The voice cast—led by Holland and Pratt and supported by Spencer, Louis-Dreyfus and Waithe—delivers performances that suit the film’s balance of humor and sentiment.
The movie is not without its flaws. At times the pacing feels uneven, and certain narrative detours—such as a subplot involving biker pixies—can feel underdeveloped or tonally out of sync with the main emotional arc. These moments occasionally slow the momentum, but they do not derail the film’s central story.
Ultimately, Onward is a warm, family-friendly adventure that may not reach the towering emotional heights of Pixar classics like Toy Story, Up or Wall-E, but it offers sincere performances, charming visuals, and a moving exploration of grief, brotherhood, and the importance of memory. For families seeking a heartfelt, imaginative outing, it’s an engaging choice that rewards both kids and adults.
Score: 20/24