Given just how successful The Super Mario Bros. was at the international box office, it's not surprising that Chris Pratt has become a draw for audiences as a voice actor in animated films. Despite receiving negative reviews, The Garfield Movie managed to make back its budget in the theatrical window and is preparing for Pratt to return to voice the titular character in a sequel. Despite Pratt’s best efforts, The Garfield Movie is a painfully generic animated comedy that feels closer in tone to The Secret Life of Pets or Madagascar than it does to the original comic strips by Jim Davis. However, Pratt gave one of his best vocal performances in the Pixar film Onward, which is certainly more deserving of a sequel.
Set within a fantasy world in which mythical creatures and magic are now part of average suburban communities, Onward featured Pratt as the voice of the teenage elf Barley Lightfoot, who lives in a small town with his mother, Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and younger brother, Ian (Tom Holland). All three have been struggling to cope with the loss of Barley’s father, Wilden, who died shortly before Ian was born. The brothers come to the realization that a magical artifact given to them by their mother on Ian’s birthday could help them restore their father to life, even if it was just for one day. Onward is a sweet, underrated Pixar film that sets up many possibilities for a sequel.
‘Onward’ Has Enough Potential for a Sequel
Onward had the misfortune of being released during unprecedented circumstances, as it debuted theatrically in March 2020, shortly before COVID-19 led to many theaters being shut down. It’s impossible to determine how well Onward would have performed under more normal circumstances, as many Pixar films like Elemental eventually proved to be financial successes after good word-of-mouth kept them in theaters for several weeks. Onward was somewhat overlooked by Disney at the time, as the studio chose to focus its awards-campaigning efforts on another Pixar release, Soul, which won two Academy Awards. Although it was nominated for Best Animated Feature, it's possible that Onward was still treated as a “lesser” Pixar film because of how quickly it was moved to PVOD, and then to Disney+. It was certainly not an amateur production by any means, as director Dan Scanlon had previously helmed the underrated prequel Monsters University.
Onward has an exciting fantasy world that has significant potential to be expanded upon in a sequel, as the first film only briefly had time to examine the various ways in which mythic components have been repurposed in reality. Although the film hints at the ancestry of the elves, as well as the roles played by pixies, fauns, goblins, cyclops, and centaurs in society, it would be interesting for a sequel to include more speaking roles for these characters. It also might be compelling to see what elements of fantasy are legitimate within this world, as Ian and Barley discover that the “magic” they use to help revitalize their father is nothing like what they expected it to be.
Onward also sets up a complex emotional story arc about brotherhood and recovery that could grow more profound in a sequel, as the film ends with both Ian and Barley having to deal with the fact that their father is truly gone; even though Barley is the only one that actually gets to meet him, he is able to empower Ian by telling him that their father loved him. Recognition is only part of the healing process, and Onward could certainly deepen the relationship between Ian and Barley in a sequel, similar to the way that the central character dynamics grew in Pixar sequels like Incredibles 2, Inside Out 2, and Toy Story 2. Pixar may have come under fire recently for making sequels that feel unnecessary, but Onward is a film that actually feels like it has more of a story to tell.
‘Onward’ Is the Type of Film Pixar Should Be Making More Often
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Onward reflects the best of Pixar because it has relatable characters whose experiences may seem familiar to the audience, regardless of their age. Despite the fact that Onward takes place in a world where dragons and magical staff exist, it has a very grounded story about life in a small town, and shows the friction and frustration that are inherent to any household. Pixar has often succeeded with films that have positive messages, and Onward has a strong focus on compassion, forgiveness, and empathy that would resonate quite strongly in a divided world.
A sequel to Onward represents a great opportunity for Pratt, who certainly gave one of his best vocal performances in the first film. Pratt didn’t do much to change his voice for The Garfield Movie or The Super Mario Bros., and based on the change in distributor rights, it seems unlikely that he will ever be able to reprise his role in another sequel to The LEGO Movie. Although Barley begins the film as a somewhat obnoxious, clumsy older brother, it's revealed that he feels tremendously guilty that Ian was not able to meet their father, and feels anxious that he may not be able to be a role model. It’s one of the more dynamic emotional arcs that Pratt has ever had to work through, and could certainly inspire a compelling direction for a sequel.
