Review: The enjoyable fantasy adventure 'Onward' finds Pixar not at its best, but possibly at its weirdest
The opening moments of "Onward" whisk us back to a world of wonder, populated by galloping centaurs, spell-casting wizards and fire-breathing dragons. Speaking of which, you'll be forgiven for briefly wondering if you've stumbled into a "How to Train Your Dragon" sequel by mistake. The digital wizards at Pixar Animation Studios pride themselves, with good reason, on their originality and ingenuity, but this particular once-upon-a-time scene setter feels curiously, even knowingly derivative. It means to remind us of an era when magic ruled the earth, and to assure us that it will rule again.
Real magic, by which I mean genuinely transporting fantasy, isn't an easy thing for a movie to promise in this day and age. The major studios - including
