It’s pretty safe to say that I have a bit of a soft spot for anything Pixar but there was something about Onward that didn’t quite sit right with me. However, if Pixar can deliver the sequel I didn’t want but can’t live without (Toy Story 4) then I have no doubt that they have the capacity to subvert my expectations and prove me wrong. Unfortunately this time Pixar dropped the ball…

Set in a fantasy world that has lost its magic, Onward tells the story of two brothers, Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley (Chris Pratt), as they embark on a quest to rediscover magic and spend one last day with their father, who died when Ian was too young to remember him.

It has to be said that Pixar did an excellent job with casting. Tom Holland’s youthful innocence and charm translates brilliantly on screen as the shy, younger brother and pairs perfectly with Chris Pratt’s exuberant and boisterous personality. In fact, I’m not sure if any other pairing would have worked quite as well.

Alongside the two central characters is a great supporting cast; Julia Dreyfus delivers as the boys’ kick-ass mum, Laurel, and Octavia Spencer seemed to have a lot of fun as The Manticore. Lena Waithe’s turn as Officer Spector was brief and subtle, but has made history as Disney/Pixar’s first openly gay character.

Full of elves, dragons, monsters and unicorns, Pixar have taken the fantasy concept and ran with it. There are elements scattered throughout that gamers of all ages will be able to relate to, like being privy to a nerdy inside joke. And whilst Onward can, and should, be enjoyed by everyone, it does feel like the little brother version of Disney’s Frozen, and this, for me, is where it falls down.

First off, the much loved Pixar short, which is one of my favourite things about watching Pixar releases at the cinema and was missing completely from Toy Story 4, was a Simpsons short which, for me, was just Disney peacocking. Further evidence of Disney’s over extending its reach is that the story was just too Disney for me, which in my world means that it was too predictable and too safe.

I did enjoy the film immensely, it was fun and adventurous but it just didn’t pluck at my heartstrings the way that Pixar films usually do. I am hoping that this is just a one off rather than a sign of things to come, although with this being the first Pixar film without any involvement from John Lasseter, I am very apprehensive about the future of Pixar.

I think it’s fair to say that Onward did not deliver enough to make its way into my top ten Pixar films but it is still an enjoyable watch, so get the family together and check out this fantasy adventure.

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