I had the opportunity to watch Onward with my sister during quarantine. We both love watching adventurous movies. As we watch more and more films together, I will admit that I got critical about the characters, the plot, and the structure. And I’m not usually a picky person when I watch a movie for the first time.

Onward is a rare film that succeeds on every level where each character, scene, humor, and plot make the film worth viewing. 

Elf brothers, Ian (voice of Tom Holland) and Barley (voice of Chris Pratt) begin a magical journey to spend a day with their perished dad. Like any good adventurous movie, their quest is filled with mysterious maps, unworkable obstacles, and unthinkable discoveries. But when their mom finds out they’re missing, that doesn’t stop her from finding them. When she teams up with a legendary manticore, she searches for her beloved sons. The movie portrays so much emotion and what it is like to miss someone you love deeply.

Watching the movie makes me feel lucky to have a sister like Barley (but less clumsy), who will do anything to make me happy and be close to me. Onward not only made me miss the people that were once close to me who are no longer in my life, but also helped me remember them again.  Viewing the film made me realize it is okay to miss them, and my heart opened up in so many ways. 

Pixar fills its films with capable characters but Onward outshines where others break down. A plausible developed friendship between the main characters. Ian, the youngest, didn’t get to know his dad very well, but Barley, the oldest, had the chance to know and love his father. On their quest, Ian learns not only more about his father but more about friendship and brotherhood. 

Onward provides a peek of what director and co-writer Dan Scanlon focused on providing, an intimate piece from his childhood and shared it to the big screen. Tom Holland and Chris Pratt both did an astonishing job illustrating companionship and brotherly love. 

If you’re the type of person who likes adventurous movies Onward is the movie for you. The movie’s continuous stream of humor could entertain older or younger audiences. And if Chris Pratt’s entertaining character doesn’t make you enjoy watching this animation, then I am not sure what would.

If you want a glimpse of brotherhood and friendship, go watch Onward. If you want to feel inspired, go watch Onward. If you want to know what it is like to lose someone you love and don’t know how to deal with it, you should go watch Onward. I am not gonna lie, you will get a good laugh out of it, even a good cry. My sister never cries in movies and she cried while watching it. This film has the possibility of making you emotional in a good way. It will lift your heart.