Onward

Breaking records with Star Wars and the MCU, continuing success with their live-action remakes and less than a month before the launch of the Disney+ streaming service, the Disney train keeps on a-rolling.

Their commitment to continuing quality and original content has been key to this inexorable rise, the critical jewels in the crown amongst the sequels and blockbusters.

A lot of these gems have come from the Mouse House’s most critically adored wing: Pixar who, despite the glut of sequels in recent times, can still be counted on to drop a stunning one-off every few years which stakes its claim to be the best the studio has made.

Hot on Inside Out and Coco’s heels is their latest: Onward. A film which, bizarrely, seems to have slipped out with fairly minimal fanfare. Let’s give it some buzz and hype though because this, once again, is another masterpiece from Pixar.

Pixar are no strangers to high-concept stuff but this is perhaps the most referential and expansive they’ve been for a while with a modern day setting populated by mythical and fantasy creatures. Think elves, unicorns, manticores and centaurs instead of humans.

Cue a multitude of high-fantasy nods and tributes with a heavy D&D lean (and some hilarious Lord of the Rings background Easter Eggs.)

The setup is thus: two brothers undergo a quest to correct a magic spell that will enable them to spend 24 hours with their father, who died when they were young.

What follows is a surprisingly accessible and straightforward road-trip buddy-comedy, refreshingly free of side-tracking, love interests, friendship groups and shoehorned-in cameos. The fantasy elements are merely garnish to what is a touching, hilarious, tightly-constructed and sweet story with an absolutely harrowing ending up there with Toy Story 3 and Coco. Seriously, bring some tissues to the cinema for this one.

A beautiful coming-of-age tribute to family, siblings and grief from the masters of the form worth catching at the cinema as well for a brilliant Maggie-starring, silent Simpsons short film beforehand.

Fantastic stuff.

4 stars ****