Pixar is without a doubt my favorite studio that has ever created movies. Ever. That being said, I will always expect a lot when ever they come out with a new movie. They've set the bar way too high at this point.
That being said, I didn't expect much of this animated film as it pertained to me, mostly because the content and genre of this story is not one I can really relate to. Fantasy, mystical creatures, quests. I was never one for dungeons and dragons, and figured I would not have much interest in this movie.
WRONG.
This movie is full of fantasy and stuff, but it really has some heart. The story is genuine and tells a pretty relatable tale of two brothers on a quest. Now, I personally cannot relate to the two brothers part, or even the quest part. The relationship between them was really meaningful though, and their dynamic was easily related into my own life.
(SPOILERS)
The story is about two brothers:
Ian (Tom Holland) is the younger brother; he is awkward and insecure. This trope is a staple in the coming of age movies that centers around a young man (or woman). But, it only works because it is accurate. He also looks eerily like an elf version of Linguine from Ratatouille.
His older brother is Barley (Chris Pratt), self-assured and often embarrassingly himself. Barley is a nerdy adult still living at home, with a Jack Black in School of Rock personality. He is what you think of when you hear "still living in his parents basement." They don't really set him up to look like the epitome of success.
What really stood out to me though was the way they took each other for granted, or at least how Ian took his older brother for granted. It takes an entire quest trying to see their father again for him to even notice his own relationship with Barley.
Now, let's back up. The story is set in a fantasy type word with all types of mythical creatures, our main guys being elves. The movie sets up a quest over a 24-hour period with the end result being able to see their father again. Barley has a few memories of him, but he dies when he is very young. Ian has never met him, but listens to recordings of his voice. Truly heartbreaking.
This once in a lifetime opportunity for Ian and Barley causes the brothers to set off on a quest to find some type of magical stone, something Barley is very excited for. This establishes that not only that he loves quests, but he likes the idea of going on one with his brother.
Ian is not thrilled, and you begin to see that he doesn't trust Barley's judgment, and he doesn't really respect him as a person.
This whole time, Ian is making a list of things he will do with his dad once he meets him. As the story progresses, the stakes are heightened to the point of exhaustion. After all the crazy adventures the two brothers go through, it becomes clear they will not finish the quest in time.
Oh, and did I mention they have their dad's legs to carry with them the whole time? So he's kind of there, but they want all of him. For obvious reasons.
So as Ian is starting to accept he will not be able to see his father before the time is up, he starts to montage all the memories he had with his brother growing up. All of the things he wrote on his list were things he has done with his brother. And in a way, his brother was his dad the whole time. Kind of.
Now, at first thought, this is cute but strange. Your brother can't be your dad, sooo... what is the movie trying to say here?
Well it all hit me with this line.
"I never had a dad, but I always had you."
Cue in tears. This line hit hard, and it sums up the whole movie. While Ian is constantly being embarrassed by Barley and pushing him away, he's the only real father figure he has. This struggle of feeling like he's always missing something is truly resolved in this moment, and allows Ian to let go and appreciate his brother in a way he never understood.
Allowing Barley to spend the literal 10 seconds they were able to get with their dad, Ian's character is able to accept what life means for him. He doesn't have a dad. He never did, and that's okay. Barley DID have a dad, and he truly lost him. He never had someone to fill that empty space, whereas Ian always did. And that was Barley.
While we are following the main quest for the boys, their mother (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) begins her own quest to find them. During this side quest, she meets The Manticore (voiced by Octavia Spencer), who is a tame version of the woman she used to be. These two are presented as fierce and persistent.
Director and co-writer Dan Scanlon is able to portray a mother who is both worried and also efficient. She doesn't bumble around or cry for help. She gets out there, does what she needs to, and uses her resources. A true feminist icon.
This film is not my favorite Pixar creation, but I'm glad it exists in the world. Ian and Barley are able to be a voice for those who don't have a father figure. Ian shows it's okay if your older sibling is all you have, and Barley shows it's okay to miss the dad you never really met. They communicate what it means to be human, and that is what Pixar does best.
Rating: 6/10
This film is currently available on Disney+. All photos are courtesy of IMDB.com
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