View Full Version : Onward (Dan Scanlon)
Philip J. Fry
03-06-2020, 06:35 AM
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSCFqsj4hV 4g5V_M5Nhq2YCZ7fb64kv75wCSAKnx OZCFouk2n3p
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn5QmllRCn4
IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7146812/) / wiki (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onward_(film)) / RT (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/onward/) / Metacritic (https://www.metacritic.com/movie/onward)
Official website (https://movies.disney.com/onward)
Heavily flawed in a way that proves to be very fascinating. It really does feel like, as many say from the marketing, Pixar attempting a Dreamworks film, and the clashing sensibilities that result from it reveal the strength of Pixar's core and how it feels ill-equipped for another studio premise. Even middle-tier Dreamworks Animation will mostly have a world that still feel casually lived-in, but Onward doesn't fill in enough details needed for this fantastical setting, and Pixar's signature writing of layered characters and emotional complexities only make some of the world-building feel more blatant as setting up for future narrative pay-offs. It's a decent premise where the storytelling's seams show too much while watching.
But the studio's aforementioned character writing strength remains at its core and powers through a lot of weak spots in its first two acts, and pay off dividends in the finale. For example, Pixar takes its characters serious enough for the early cringe comedy to be too cringe rather than effective, but I don't think another studio will give the mother character this much spotlight and interiority, or give space to the two brothers' bond enough that an impromptu dance proves both spontaneous and fittingly lovely. Best of all, Pixar still insists on some realistic core of tough love even in (by its standard) trifles like this, with a decision to deny something that feels absolutely in line with what we learn of this family's history, but nonetheless remain pretty devastating. What starts out as a brotherly road trip turns stealthily into a look at dealing with unfinished emotional business/trauma, which varies from how little-to-none, or how heavily much, one leaves things off. 7/10
Also, Octavia Spencer steals scene after scene (I am so into her character that it takes me like half the film to recognize her voice), and this is easily Chris Pratt's best performance.
Dukefrukem
03-20-2020, 04:01 PM
on Disney+ starting April 3rd
on Disney+ starting April 3rd
Yup, as I just posted right above you, lol. X)
Dukefrukem
03-20-2020, 08:06 PM
whoops.
Philip J. Fry
03-20-2020, 08:10 PM
Heh.
Grouchy
04-02-2020, 12:09 AM
Well, after the soulless cash grab that was Toy Story 4, this is a return to form for Pixar and, without being one of the studio's top tier entries, is a classic story done right, with plenty of heartfelt moments, honest laughs and well rounded, endearing characters. I can't see the comparison to Dreamworks. Even if I haven't seen all of that studio's animated films (to be honest, I've only seen the original films of The Prince of Egypt, Shrek, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon), this one feels like it goes into pulling our heartstrings with adult material (like dealing with the loss of a parent) in a way none other than Pixar can. And the surface subject matter of role-playing games just appeals to me a lot, as a Dungeons & Dragons player myself.
And, by the way, I'd never heard of the Danna brothers before, and now they are on my radar of film composers, if only because of this beautiful tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0Z_hqLiHDQ&list=PLaKx 5hqRFKN6VxDN6PJsQ06KmZ3FMc-yB&index=6
Well, after the soulless cash grab that was Toy Story 4, this is a return to form for Pixar and, without being one of the studio's top tier entries, is a classic story done right, with plenty of heartfelt moments, honest laughs and well rounded, endearing characters. I can't see the comparison to Dreamworks. Even if I haven't seen all of that studio's animated films (to be honest, I've only seen the original films of The Prince of Egypt, Shrek, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon), this one feels like it goes into pulling our heartstrings with adult material (like dealing with the loss of a parent) in a way none other than Pixar can. And the surface subject matter of role-playing games just appeals to me a lot, as a Dungeons & Dragons player myself.
Agreed with all of this. This film was fantastic.
Philip J. Fry
05-29-2020, 01:15 AM
Not my favorite of the recent Pixar efforts, but it was still fine. And while the premise and the world feel unique, some of the story beats feel a little overly familiar, even if they are done and I honestly found a little unsatisfying that Elf Linguini didn't meet up his dad.
The creativity of the film was much more entertaining than the storytelling. The fantastical use of creatures big and small? Good stuff. I liked the brothers relationship, much more than the trailers led on, but the details about parents and role models... its just a bit tired at this point for Pixar to repeat the same elements of loss. They don't have to lay into the familial hurt so much to have a successful film. Regardless, I had more fun with this than I expected and it was a nice 90ish minute ride.
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