James Bond Week: Moonraker Film Review

Directed by Lewis Gilbert

Starring: Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale

Rated PG

In the late 70’s, Roger Moore played the role of James Bond and continued to do so until the mid 80’s. In Moonraker, Bond faces off against Hugo Drax (played by Michael Lonsdale) , a millionaire who steals his own space shuttle. Bond is sent to investigate Drax, only to find out that Drax is playing to send a select few to space so he can destroy the Earth, only to have his select few repopulate the Earth. Bond is assisted by CIA agent, Dr. Holly Goodhead (played by Lois Chiles), as they go around the world to places such as Venice, Rio de Janeiro, and even outer space.

If the plot of the film sounds familiar, that is because it is a carbon copy of the previous film in this series, The Spy Who Loved Me. Both films deal with a millionaire who want to destroy the world and create a new one. They both have a female spy from another country that is assisting Bond in his adventures. I can only figure that the film producers like the story of the previous film so much, they decided to use the same one for the next film. But with that in mind, it almost feels lazy to keep the same plot points of the previous film, with some notable exceptions. I know the story isn’t the selling point in these types of films, but it almost feels unoriginal when the film doesn’t come up with its own story. To add insult to injury, the film can get dull at a few moments. There are multiple enjoyable moments, but the ones that are slow are painfully slow.

In my previous Bond review, I mentioned Goldfinger was a lighthearted film that was enjoyable. While Moonraker is both of those things, the film is almost laughable at how camp it is. While it is fun to watch Bond say a funny one liner, its feels different when there’s an entire scene dedicated to humor. For example, there’s scene where Bond is on a gondola in Venice that was specifically made to be humorous. Bond is driving the gondola on land and it shows that this is supposed to be humorous. This is an unnecessary scene that adds no value to the film and is only there because the film wanted to be funny. The difference between the humor in Goldfinger and Moonraker is that the humor in Goldfinger felt like an afterthought, while the humor in this film feels like it should be on the main stage.

But with all those gripes, Roger Moore still brings his charm to the role as Bond. The late actor played the role as a ladies man who threw in jokes often. Connery also played the ladies man, but also was tough. Meanwhile, Moore doesn’t play the role as a tough agent, mostly because his puns get in the way of that. As the role of Drax, Michael Lonsdale plays the villain almost like a cartoon character. Lonsdale certainly seems to have fun with the role as he probably knows this is a ridiculous film to begin with. Finally Lois Chiles plays the Bond girl, Dr. Goodhead. Unfortunately, she makes a forgettable Bond girl as she gives a wooden performance in a role that doesn’t give her much to do.

Overall, Moonraker has its moments, but its a slow film that has too many jokes. Roger Moore gives a performance filled with charm but unfortunately his role cannot save the film. Moonraker is not one of the best Bond’s films and is film best viewed as background noise as the story and the humor won’t certainly draw your typical audience in.

2/4

James Bond Week: Goldfinger Film Review

Directed by Guy Hamilton

Starring: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman

Rated PG

This week, I thought it would be fun to explore one of my favorite film series, the James Bond series. For the next five days, it will be interesting to dig deep one Bond film per decade, played by a different actor. Today we start off the first Bond actor, Sean Connery.

In 1964, Sean Connery returned to the role as James Bond with Goldfinger with great success. Often praised as one of the best Bond films, the film centers around 007 facing against Auric Goldfinger (played by Gert Fröbe) a villain who is in love with gold. Goldfinger is plotting to break into Fort Knox and poison its gold with radioactive material in order to increase his personal worth of gold. Now its up to 007 to stop Goldfinger before the villain achieves his plans.

The film is one of the first 007 films to be lighthearted and use the same tropes future Bond films would use. The contemporary artist singing over the credits, Bond and Q scene, and the use of the Aston Martin. The film almost feels relaxed and knows what its doing, in part because this is the third film in the series. By then, the producers knew what worked and what didn’t. While excellent films, the first two films almost felt like they were trying to embody the works of Alfred Hitchcock. Goldfinger is finally where the series becomes its own and became the spy series everyone tried to copy.

One of the reasons why Goldfinger feels different is due to the stellar performance of Sean Connery. Connery is often praised as one of the best Bond, and Goldfinger proves why he should get that title. Connery finally feels comfortable as the role, as he did have two films to see what works best. Connery can charm a women and win a fight at once, as proven by the cold open of the film. Connery is only as good as Bond because he is perfectly fitted with the villain Goldfinger. Fröbe plays the titular character as a calm and collective villain who doesn’t have to prove his is evil. He doesn’t have to yell or kill people directly to get his point across, just a smug look on his face does the job.

Accompanying the film is John Barry’s beautiful score that compliments the film well. The score features a multitude of instruments including a lush harp. Listening to the score not only enhances the film, but almost makes the film feel like its in a time most of us will never live. As mentioned before, elements of Goldfinger set the standard for future films in this series and the score is one of those elements.

Goldfinger is fun, energetic, and entertaining overall. Sean Connery gives a great performance as Bond as he finally feels at home with the character. If anyone were to start watching the Bond series, Goldfinger would be a great start. Its an iconic film that is certainly fun all around.

4/4

Jackie Brown Film Review

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Rated R for strong language, some violence, drug use and sexuality

Starring: Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster

Jackie Brown is often said to be director Quentin Tarantino’s most mature film due to the film not having Tarantino’s trademarks. The film doesn’t have a nonlinear story line, pop culture heavy dialogue, or even strong, bloody violence. But without those signature trademarks, Jackie Brown is an essential Tarantino film and continues to be one of his best films.

Jackie Brown stars Pam Grier, as the titular character, as an airline stewardess who is caught smuggling drugs and money over the border. In an effort to not get jail time, she works with two ATF agents (played by Michael Keaton and Michael Bowen), but at the same time works with her boss (played by Samuel L. Jackson) in a complicated double cross scheme.

What works best in Jackie Brown is the strong performances given by the A list cast. Pam Grier plays a tired stewardess who is trying to one up the people she is supposed to be working with. Her facial expressions in various scenes show how Jackie is feeling in that scene. In one of my favorite scenes, Jackie is in a dressing room and quietly stares at herself in the mirror before doing a money exchange. That scene is short and very brief, but its brilliant as we can tell what Jackie is thinking and feeling by just one look at herself in the mirror.

In addition to Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, who often collaborates with Tarantino, does an excellent job. He plays a villainous role, a type of role that Jackson doesn’t play too much. He’s terrifying and funny at the same time as the role of Ordell who is just trying to get his money from Mexico. One of Ordell’s friend is Louis (played by Robert De Niro), an ex convict who is quiet and dimwitted. It was a pleasure to see De Niro in a supporting role as a character he almost never plays. It is certainly a breath of fresh air to see De Niro take on a different character that does bring out a chuckle out of me, whether it is intentional or accidental. Finally Robert Forester plays Max Cherry, a bail bondsman who helps Jackie in her complicated scheme. The late actor brilliantly plays a character who is tired of being a bail bondsman and is trying to find something new in his life. I suspect that Cherry would normally not go along with this type of scheme, but would do it for Brown, who he secretly has a thing for.

In re watching Jackie Brown, it is shocking how fast paced the film goes, considering it is more than two and a half hours long. The film never gets dull or slow, this is due to its writer Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino is a writer known for writing dialogue and he certainly delivers with Jackie Brown. He also delivers a strong soundtrack to accompany the film. Tarantino is also known for perfectly placing fine music in his films and this one has the likes of The Delfonics, Johnny Cash, and The Supremes. With musical acts like those placed in your film, it is no wonder the film smoothly flows without any scenes dragging.

Watching Jackie Brown made me rethink the film as a whole. Many fans of Tarantino would normally rank this film low on their list because its not an iconic Tarantino film like Pulp Fiction or Inglorious Basterds is. But Jackie Brown is certainly one of Tarantino’s finest works and certainly deserves to be ranked high in the Tarantino filmography.

4/4

Mother (2009) Film Review

Directed by Bong Joon Ho

Starring: Hye-ja Kim, Won Bin, Goo Jin

Rated R for language, some sexual content, violence and drug use

After re-watching Parasite, I decided to see what else acclaimed director Bong Joon Ho had to offer. I stumbled upon Mother, another film written and directed by Bong Joon Ho. Mother stars Hye-ja Kim as a single mother who cares for her adult son (played by Won Bin). When her son is accused of murdering a schoolgirl , the mother is convinced that her son did not do the crime and is willing to do anything to prove his innocence. This review will have some spoilers, so please view Mother, as it is an excellent film.

To start off, Hye-ja Kim as the mother, who doesn’t have an actual name, does an excellent job portraying a mother who is alone and truly cares for his son. The first scene proves how much she cares for him as he is playing across the street and keeps looking at his son every five seconds while at work. Once Yoon Do-joon is accused of the murder, we see how desperate she gets to prove her son’s innocence. She hires a useless lawyer, tries to badger the cop handling this case, and even breaks into her son’s friend’s house to gather evidence. Her character is almost on the verge on having a breakdown as it seems like she is on this mission alone, at least at first.

The mother is the main character, and whatever she learns, we learn as well. Writers Bong Joon Ho and Eun-kyo Park write a murder mystery of sorts but don’t give us a direct answer of who did the actual murder. We know some of the characters are unreliable as the film shows us. In the first act of the film, Jin Goo, one of Yoon Do-joon’s friend, breaks a car mirror and puts the blame on his friend for the act. So we know that he is unreliable character off the bat. The son is also unreliable as he was drunk during the night the murders were done, so he has little to no memory of that night. The police seem do not care about the case and don’t investigate the murders. Finally, the old man in the third act could be placing the blame on the son so he is not caught, but not too much is known of the old man’s character, so we cannot believe his story.

All of these characters mentioned are unreliable and its hard to tell who is lying and telling the truth. I applaud the writers who don’t tell us who did the murder and basically leave the answer of who committed the murder to the viewer. As mentioned before, what the mother learns, we learn. So in turn, this is a true mystery that is unsolved. In the end of the film, another kid is accused and the son is set free. But considering how little the police care about this case and are willing to accuse anyone, the audience is lead to believe that the wrong person was once again accused and the mother can’t do anything else about this. Earlier in the film, an old man “confirms” that Yoon Do-joon actually did the murders, as he saw the entire thing. But the mother killed the old man to let this secret from going out. So a part of the mother’s mind is convinced that the son actually did the mother and an innocent man is being blamed. The story takes the audience for a ride as you also try to guess what is happening, long after the film is done.

With much admiration I have for the film, there is one minor gripe I have with the film. In one scene, the mother is visiting her son in jail and he brings up the fact that she once tried to kill him and kill herself when he was five. Unfortunately, this scene is comes out of left field and is never even mentioned prior to this scene. Once the scene is over, this is never mentioned again in the film. The only thing I can think of to bring this fact up is that the mother may be a bit crazy. It is proven by the fact she brutally murders an old man and burns down his home. But besides that, this was a random scene that served no purpose at all.

But with that being said, Mother offers a good murder mystery that lets the audience decide who is the culprit. The brilliant screenplay serves as a foundation for the excellent story being told with phenomenal acting. Mother is worth a watch for all film lovers.

3.5/4

Molly’s Game Film Review

Directed by Aaron Sorkin

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner

Rated R for language, drug content and some violence

Molly’s Game is the directorial debut of screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who also wrote the screenplay for the film. The film centers around Molly Bloom (played by Jessica Chastain), a real life figure, who is arrested for running an illegal gambling ring. Her story is told mostly by flashbacks, as her lawyer (played by Idris Elba) reads the real life book she published, that would ultimately get her in trouble.

The film stars Jessica Chastain, as Molly, who does a fantastic job portraying the real life “poker princess”, as the film calls her. She is a character that was a skier when she was younger, but soon becomes a mastermind who runs a high stake poker game. The first scene properly introduces Molly, mostly in part screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, when she is seen as a smart character. This scene alone establishes Molly as a genius and makes her rise to power believable. For various scenes, Molly interacts with her lawyer Charlie, who is played by Idris Elba. Elba is incredible in any role he is in and of course he is also fantastic in the role of Charlie. The scenes were Molly and Charlie interact are great scenes. The two characters are intelligent and work well off each other. The only downside of having Elba in the role is that he is not in the film for too long, as the story is mostly focused on Molly and her story.

Aaron Sorkin is a screenwriter that has written screenplays such as The Social Network and Steve Jobs. Both of those screenplays, and other Sorkin screenplays, feature characters who say sharp dialogue. Molly’s Game is no exception to this, as most of the characters speak like Sorkin would. The story itself is an intriguing one, mostly because it is a true story. The film mostly switches between Molly and Charlie’s interaction and Molly’s own story as the “poker princess”. But occasionally, the film also switches back to Molly’s childhood. While viewing her childhood was interesting, these scenes mostly take away from any scenes of Molly and Charlie interacting. I feel conflicted on whether or not Sorkin should have removed these scenes, as viewing Molly’s skiing career did bring some intriguing, but at the same time, it doesn’t add too much to the story. These scenes only give the reason why Molly kept on running the poker games.

Overall, Molly’s Game is an interesting story of how one person ran high stake poker games with Hollywood elites and billionaires. The fact that this is a true story only brings more interest and makes the audience think of the actual games that were played with these powerful people. The story and the acting from its main star make Molly’s Game make the film worth while.

3.5/4

Spenser Confidential Film Review

Directed by Peter Berg

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke, Alan Arkin

Rated R for violence, language throughout and sexual content

Spenser Confidential is a an action comedy film directed by Peter Berg. The film centers around Spenser (played by Mark Wahlberg), a formerly released convict who tries to solve the murder of a police officer who is accused of murdering Spenser’s former boss, Captain Boylan (played by Michael Gatson). Spenser is joined by his new roommate, Hawk (played by Winston Duke), and his friend Henry (played by Alan Arkin) as they investigate the most corrupt cops in Boston.

The film is the fifth collaboration between director Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg. The two work great off each other as Wahlberg seems comfortable as the role of Spenser. With all the gripes with the film, Wahlberg does a great job with the type of role that Wahlberg seems to enjoy. In short, this is the type of role Wahlberg always plays. The film also stars Winston Duke, who somehow is not given much to do, despite Duke being in the film for a large portion of it. The only memorable thing Duke does in the film is box. But there is more to the character to that, but the film doesn’t serve anything memorable about him. Also in the film is Iliza Shlesinger, who plays a stereotypical Boston woman who doesn’t do anything in the film at all. Her role could have been cut and the film could not have changed at all.

The main issue with the film is that there is so much filler that doesn’t make a difference in the film and only drags it down. A key example is in a scene where two characters have sexual intercourse in a restaurant restroom. The scene was supposed to be funny but it only comes off a unnecessary as it brings a halt to the film. A few minutes later, a character is chasing a car but is only mauled by a German Shepard. The bit is funny at first, but then goes on for a couple minutes. It soon gets unfunny and serves no purpose at all. It’s moments like these that make it so frustrating to view the film as we only want to continue forward with the plot, not stop the story for a humorous bit.

In addition to the unnecessary scenes, the film almost plays like an entire cliche. Down to a character chewing on a toothpick to a Boston woman being loud and brash. The film does call out some of the cliches, which I enjoyed, but the moment the third act came, it was evident where the film was going. It’s almost like the film had a checklist it has to follow to the tea. The film also does a poor job serving a good mystery. The mystery of what happened is solved in the first act. Either this was intentional or the filmmakers took the audience as unintelligent and knew they could not solve the crime themselves. Either way, it felt like a waste of time as the audience and even the main character himself knew who did the crime.

I am of the opinion that some audience members will enjoy Spenser Confidential. Mark Walhberg is fun in the film as he seems natural in the role of Spenser. But on the other hand, the film is filled with cliches that are in unnecessary scenes that go nowhere. If you view the film as a mindless action film that is bound to have issues, then by all means view the film and have some fun with it. But in the end, the problems of the film can make it difficult to fully enjoy Spenser Confidential.

2/4

Good Time Film Review

Directed by Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Rated R for language throughout, violence, drug use and sexual content

Good Time is the directorial debut of the Safdie Brothers. The crime drama centers around Connie (played by Robert Pattinson), a young man who must break his intellectually disabled brother, Nick (played by Benny Safdie), out of jail after a bank robbery goes wrong. Throughout the film, Connie goes throughout New York and tries everything to get his brother out while also evading capture from the police.

What makes a film like Good Time exciting is that it uses the story to build up tension and suspension. This is by no means a horror filled film but just watching some scenes makes the audience nervous to what will happen next. This is what Uncut Gems, the sophomore effort from the Safdie Brothers, did so well. Both films make every scene anxious because we do not know what to expect. Writers Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie do a great job writing the dialogue and plot points that keep the audience guessing, but its the two directors that do an exceptional job putting the uneasiness onto the screen. The audience expects the film to take one direction, but it ends up going another.

While praise should be given to the two directors behind the camera, some should also go to its star Robert Pattinson. Years ago, Pattinson was a fairly disliked actor due to his work in the Twilight series. To be fair, his performances in those films were not so strong partly due to the lack of material that was given to him. But now Pattinson has redeemed himself as an actor and I would like to believe Good Time had a hand in that. It’s hard to believe but Pattinson has an English accent but there is no hint of that in this film. Pattinson perfectly conveys a young man who is trying everything to break out his brother with some of the anger and confusion that comes with it. The film also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barkhad Abdi, and Benny Safdie. Unfortunately, they are mostly in the film for a scene two, with the notable exception being Safdie, who appears at the very beginning and end of the film.

As mentioned before, Good Time makes the audience anxious due to the fast paced the film goes. What helps make the film go fast is the anxiety filled soundtrack from Oneohtrix Point Never. The score perfectly compliments the feeling Connie goes through the entire film. He is trying to break his brother from jail, therefore must act fast. With this, everything around him goes fast and he is moving at a fast speed. When viewing the film, the score was almost reminiscent of Uncut Gems, a synth filled score that keeps the audience engaged. Behind the camera is Sean Price Williams, who serves as the film’s cinematographer. He also does a great job for his work for the film, as he doesn’t make Good Time as a big Hollywood film. He filmed the scenes as it were real and it has a guerrilla style to it.

Overall, Good Time is a film that that takes an audience for a ride due to the fantastic direction and writing. Its star Robert Pattinson is electrifying in this fast paced film. It’s safe to say Good Time and Uncut Gems proved that the Safdie Brothers are up and coming directors to look out for in the future.

3.5/4

Bloodshot Film Review

Directed by Dave Wilson

Starring: Vin Diesel, Eiza González, Sam Heughan

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some suggestive material and language

Bloodshot is an action film based on the comic book with the same name. The film centers around Ray (played by Vin Diesel), a soldier who is killed only to be brought back to life by a billion dollar company. Not only is he resurrected from the dead, but he is back with superpowers that include super strength and self healing. With these new powers, he would be used by others to be a weapon.

While Bloodshot is filled with cliches, it is still a somewhat enjoyable film. The opening scene is filled with action cliches that is features a soldiers going to a country and saving hostages, and ending up with a beautiful women at the end. The first half of the film is a typical action film, I can praise the somewhat twist that is featured in the film. It’s certainly not the biggest shocker, it does take a film in a different direction than I certainly expected it to go.

The action in the film is fast paced and interesting. The standouts does include an action sequence in a tunnel. While, I had fun with the action, there were several missed opportunities in the film. The main character is one that has super strength and can heal by himself, whether he gets shot or stabbed. But while the titular character is very strong and powerful, there is no sense of real danger for the character. The only danger the character faces is the main villain who can turn off Bloodshot in a second and his henchman who is a walking cliche. Yes, the action is enjoyable but there were so many things that could have been done with the action. Instead, the film plays it safe with some horrendous CGI.

For the most part, the casting in the film yields mixed results. Vin Diesel plays the same character he’s always played. He doesn’t add anything to the role and it almost feels like another actor could play the role. The film also features Lamorne Morris who displays a strong British accent in the film. While he was fun to watch at first, his jokes and quirks got old really fast. This is mostly due to the fact that the editors didn’t know when to cut his scenes. But the standouts in the film include Guy Pearce and Eiza González who give strong performances. They actually try to give more than is required in the film and I praise them for that. Every time they were on screen, I knew the scenes would be interesting.

Bloodshoot certainly has its issues but its still an enjoyable time that is filled with mindless action. The film doesn’t warrant a big screen treatment, as it would be best to view the film at home (and not just because almost all theaters are closed at the moment). Fans of Vin Diesel and the comic book will enjoy Bloodshot.

2.5/4

The Invisible Man Film Review

Directed by Leigh Whannell

Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Harriet Dyer

Rated R for some strong bloody violence, and language.

The Invisible Man is a horror remake of the 1933 classic film with the same name, which itself was based off a novel by H.G. Wells. After leaving a abusive relationship, Cecilia (played by Elizabeth Moss) tries to live her normal life and cope with the trauma she faced in her relationship. But soon after her former partner (played by Oliver Jackson-Cohen) commits suicide, Cecilia feels like her ex boyfriend is stalking her, but in a invisible form.

The film’s main character is played by Elizabeth Moss, who delivers a strong performance. She is a character who is afraid, confused, and terrified that someone or something is stalking her. There are also a lot of physical acting that had to be done in the film. In one scene in particular, Cecilia is fighting with the invisible man. We don’t see the man itself, but we can tell she is in a vicious fight. Aldis Hodge is also in the film and plays Cecilia’s friend. Hodge also does an excellent job in the film and is actually one of the standouts from the film. The character is not only well written, but is also played excellently by Hodge. Although Hodge has been in previous films such as Hidden Figures and Straight Outta Compton, I would like to see Hodge in more starring roles. He proved in this film that is he is a likable figure who commands presence when he is on the screen and that likability can definitely be carried over to staring roles.

Although the film does have its terrifying moments, the film plays more of a suspenseful film. The opening scene has the main character leaving home in a suspended filled scene. Director Leigh Whannell made this scene filled with uneasiness due to the suspense that surrounded the scene. Without any words being said, we know what is at stake if the other character wakes up. I like how Whannell did not have to dumb down the scene and explain what was happening. The scene itself explains it all.

But as much I enjoyed the film, the film did slow down a bit in the second act of the film. I certainly understand having Cecilia in the attic looking for clues is supposed to be suspenseful but the scene did get dragged on a bit. While do appreciate the film not going the cliche jump scare route and actually building the tension, I believe cutting parts of the scene would have been best. It is until the third act where things pick up. While a tad bit predictable, the entire third act is not only action pack, but fast paced as well. The third act is filled with many twists and turns that the final act makes up for the slow second act.

The Invisible Man is a different type of horror film that doesn’t stoop low to the typical horror film cliches. The film is certainly filled with relatable leads who give strong performances. Leigh Whannell not only directs this well directed film, but also writes a story that is grounded in reality. The story of having someone leave an abusive relationship certainly plays a big role in the film, but also brilliantly has a long lasting effect in it. The Invisible Man is a smart and terrifying film that has a lot to offer and will certainly keep the audience thinking about the film long after it is over.

3/4

Onward Film Review

Directed by Dan Scanlon

Starring: : Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements

Onward is the newest Pixar film in which two brothers go on a quest to see their deceased father. On his 16th birthday, Ian (voiced by Tom Holland) is given a magical spell on how to bring back his deceased father. After failing to bring him back completely, Ian and his brother, Barley (voiced by Chris Pratt), go on an adventure to completely bring back their father before time runs out.

The animation in Onward is quite stunning, as is the order for Pixar films. Every detail that is placed in the animation makes the world of magic seem very realistic. For example, Barley is a character who has some facial hair and it is noticeable on his face. It’s a small detail to point out but it goes to prove how much time and passion the animators put into the film. Regardless if a Pixar film is hit or miss, the animation in it is always in top form.

The two main characters in the film are voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, who have great chemistry on screen. Holland is exceptional as the voice of Ian, who really shines in the third act. Holland perfectly voices a shy 16 year old boy who just wants to see his father for one day only. Ian’s brother, Barley, is the opposite of Ian, in which he is not shy and is always wanting to go on a adventure. In our world, he would be a stereotypical dungeons and dragons player who rides in a van who listens to rock music. A part of me feels like this role should have played by Jack Black. Pratt does a great job voicing the character, but the entire time I just envisioned Jack Black perfectly doing the voice work. In addition to Holland and Pratt, Julia Louis- Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer also voice two characters who are trying to find Ian and Barley. They are both hilarious and every moment they are on screen, they both shine.

Onward is certainly a fun and enjoyable film. The first two acts of the film certainly as its moments, but things really pick up in the final act. And while it is an enjoyable film, the film does have emotional moments that may make anyone tear up. When the film presents the emotional moments, it is well done. It doesn’t need the sappy music or heavy dialogue that films try to add. All it needs is the facial work the characters express. The final 10 minutes of the film show that no words are needed to make the audience cry.

Onward is not the best film from Pixar, but it is still a well done film. The cast in the film do an excellent job portraying their characters. It’s an enjoyable film that has fun stored within it. In a world filled with magical creatures and spells, Onward still manages to have a human connection.

3/4