On Pixar's Onward
There is a clear formula at work in every Pixar movie. That's not a bad thing, especially since this formula still allows for a lot of creative freedom. When it's firing on all cylinders, there are few storytellers better able to entertain and tug the heartstrings. So what is this Pixar formula?
Let me give you an example:
Remember that moment in Inside-Out, when Joy finds herself stuck in the wasteland of forgotten memories, meets Bing Bong and only escapes because Bing Bong sacrifices himself? It was a tear-jerker of a moment, but it was also one that, when I first saw it and every other time since, felt a bit too obviously manipulative; like Pixar knew they needed something in there to make the audience choke up; saying goodbye to your imaginary friend was the perfect choice for a movie with that premise. I can't deny it; it was the perfect choice.
But it still felt like Pixar was working backwards, saying "we need to put something here to get the audience weepy" instead of having a story strong enough either to stand on its own or to let the natural-occurring moments bring the tears in a less obvious way. In contrast, consider the scene in Toy Story 3 when Andy plays with his toys with Bonnie. It's basically his goodbye and it's a moment that absolutely shatters me whenever I watch it. I know it's meant to make me cry; that's what good stories are there to do, to bring out a response from the viewer. The fact that the moment felt natural and earned is why it's so effective.
Onward felt like Bing Bong Dies: The Movie.
It felt like the entire story was crafted around the tear-jerker climax, instead of letting the story naturally arrive there. Maybe I'm being cynical, but it seems like the writers looked over the library of Pixar movies, divided them into two columns---the ones everyone loves, and the other ones---and decided the common denominator in the beloved films was how they all had a moment or three that made audiences blubber.
I want to be clear: I really loved this movie. It sounds like I'm hating on it but I'm not; I'm only pointing out the one nagging flaw that keeps me from putting it on the same level as Wall-E or The Incredibles.
9/10 - Onward is a ton of fun, filled with clever world building, charming characters, a wonderful third act action sequence, great emotional beats, and an emotionally-rich and satisfying ending.
I just wish it wasn't so obvious where all the seams are in the tapestry.