Onward
I feel like the writers of Inside Out probably know something about the human mind that we don’t quite understand. The process of emotions is something that still baffles me to this day. To be fair, I probably could understand it a bit better. Do a bit of research on how the brain process memories but who has time for that? *laughs awkwardly* A lot of my core memories exist at a younger age and heavily feature my grandmother. When my wife and I first started dating I remember talking about her. I used to have seasonal depression. My grandmother died in late October of 2001. It seemed like every year around that time I would get sucked back into those memories.
I would rely on those memories that I allowed depression to take hold. I once even wrote a line in a poem, “Just the burn of a cigarette to the skin, anything to feel hole again.” While I have since overcome my seasonal depression, I still wonder what one more day would be like with her at my age. Would she be proud of me as a husband? Would she be proud of all the work I’ve done in the mental health community? She missed out on some much of my life. I was ten years old when she died. She missed out on high school graduation, prom, first heartbreak, wedding and just general life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m completely happy in my season of life but those “what if” questions are tattoos – they never fade and they never leave.
For their latest epic, Pixar, is pondering the same thing in Onward. The film centers on Ian (Tom Holland) and his brother, Barley (Chris Pratt), as they embark on a quest to resurrect their father for one more day. Both brothers have different experiences with their father. Ian, being the youngest, only remembers him through secondhand accounts. His father was sick and died before Ian came into the world. There are several sequences throughout the first act where Ian is gazing at photographs of his father or listening to a voice recorded cassette he made. Whereas Barley had memories, even at a young age. He still knew his father. Honestly, the dynamic of Holland & Pratt maybe one of the strongest driving forces of the film.
It kind of almost feels like someone saw the first exchange of Star Lord & Spider-Man from Infinity War & said let’s do an entire movie of this – but make them elves. The brothers are beautifully written. It is an honest treasure to watch the brothers’ dynamic unfold throughout its duration. Holland and Pratt have tremendous chemistry. While the two exist heavily in the throws of the film’s humor, they are equally the heartbeat. The third act will truly test your tear ducts. Incredible writing, chemistry and humor - Onward is perfectly balanced. Through, its’ first act feels a bit disjointed from the rest of the film. While the second act is adventurous, hilarious and unpredictable. Even, the third act can induce anxiety and will sure keep you crying. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. The first act just drags and feels a bit tonally skewed from the rest of the film.
Overall, Onward, is a perfectly blended triumph. Tom Holland and Chris Pratt have incredible chemistry. Though it might be Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, & Kevin Bunin who take the spotlight for their marvelous script. They world they create is as fantastical as it is modern. Nothing blends that more than Holland and Pratt. They practically personify the logic and history of the world. The heart and humor of the film give way to the richer elements of the movie. Proving that Onward is a true treasure that can be enjoyed by any viewer of any age.
RORSCHACH RATING:
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and you are struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message or tweet to us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written and produced by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey. Music by Yuriy Bespalov & Beggars. Onward is property of Disney & Pixar. We do not own nor claim any rights.