ONWARD
Journey of elf discovery
RELEASED OUT NOW! 2020 | PG | Blu-ray (3D, standard)/DVD/ download Director Dan Scanlon Cast Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer
It’s no surprise to find that Pixar’s idea of epic fantasy is different to everyone else’s. Magic, a smorgasbord of mythical creatures and a quest to recover a mystical MacGuffin are – inevitably – all on the menu here. But by setting them against a contemporary American backdrop, Onward puts a fresh spin on hackneyed old tropes.
In a fantasy world where modern technology has consigned magic to history, elf brothers Ian and Barley (voiced by MCU regulars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) set off on a road trip to recover a gem that can temporarily resurrect their late dad. Along the way they cross paths with a gang of angry biker sprites and a manticore who’s regretting her life choices, while using a Dungeons & Dragons-type board game to guide them – nobody could claim Onward isn’t proud to show off its influences.
But for all the invention and humour, this isn’t vintage Pixar. The brothers never quite gel as one of the studio’s great double acts, while their journey of self-discovery feels like Comingof-Age Movie 101. Luckily, an exciting, emotional last act rides to the rescue with some unexpected twists to prove that the old Pixar magic isn’t a thing of the past.
Extras While the DVD just has a commentary from director and producer, there’s plenty more on the Blu-ray. The highlight of the six featurettes is “Quest For Story” (nine minutes), in which Scanlon discusses the story’s origins. You also get six deleted scenes (30 minutes of additional material) and trailers.
Puts a fresh spin on hackneyed old tropes