Stories are how humanity entertains itself, how it imparts essential information, and how it processes grief. Onward is a story that seeks to do all of these.
Onward takes place in a world populated only by fairy tale creatures. They are a people that have lost their way, though. Over time, they have continually embraced the more comfortable, safer way of living. As a result, heroism, wonder, and magic have fallen away. Onward tells the story of Ian and Barley Lightfoot as they try to tap into the world of magic left behind and fulfill a wondrous birthday gift: 24 hours with their long-dead father. When the initial casting of the spell that was supposed to summon their dad gets interrupted halfway through—only Dad’s bottom half manifests in the mortal world, Ian and Barley set off on a quest to retrieve the phoenix gem they need to finish the spell and talk to the father they so dearly miss. Along the way, they learn to value the road less traveled and the unexpected challenge.
This month, Eve and I join Ian and Barley on their epic adventure! We look at interesting parallels between their quest and the bold Christian walk, as well as what it means to be a father and a mentor. Finally, we discuss the importance of difficulty. Join us as we walk the road of peril and seek to learn its lessons.
Initial Impressions
Onward is the 22nd feature-length animated film from Pixar Studios. It’s the first directed by Dan Scanlon, who brings his own life experience to the film as both the director as one of the screenwriters, as someone who lost his father at a very young age. The movie’s score is by brothers Mychael and Jeff Danna, who have hundreds of film credits between them. They bring an appropriately sweeping sense of adventure in the music that matches the spirit of the movie. Onward also brings some heavy hitters in the voice department: From the Disney/Marvel Stables, Tom Holland is Ian Lightfoot and Chris Pratt is Ian’s big brother Barley. Multiple award-winners Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer round out the cast.
Holland and Pratt inform their roles, making the characters very much their own. It’s easy to see a lot of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in Ian Lightfoot. They are both socially awkward high schoolers who are trying to cope with new power, so it’s pretty much inevitable that he’d draw on that character to create Ian. Pratt’s Barley is much less identifiable as any one specific previous style, but Christ Pratt has a broader range of characters in his filmography and more variety of experience upon which to draw. Both actors bring their sense of humility to the roles that help us sympathize with the characters.
Unfortunately, Onward does not escape the creeping progressive social agenda as one of the actors, Lena Waithe, sought permission to change the word “husband” in one of her lines to “girlfriend.” While I thought it was an innocuous line that could be taken as a female friend, it turns out Eve was right, and the line was intended to slip an LGBT reference into yet another family film from Mouse & Co. We are reminded that Disney is not a Christian company, and this world is NOT our world. We should use these departures from God’s intended relationship between man and woman as an opportunity to share the Gospel and speak the truth in love.
This film does deal with a very, very “Dungeons & Dragons”-like world, and some Christians may find that objectionable. We want to stress that the use of magic here, as in most fantasy books and D&D itself, is a device used to set a stage and tell a story. They do not ever suggest that magic is something to be pursued in real life nor present it as an alternative religious choice. Indeed, in the process of telling their story, the creative team introduces some very Christian themes that warrant discussion. If you would like to discuss the use of magic in this way, please join us over at our Facebook group page! We would love to hear your thoughts!
* * * SPOILERS AHEAD * * *
The Easy Way
The backstory of Onward tells us of the fall of magic through the progression of science. As the people of Onward find easier ways to accomplish their goals through science, they set aside the old ways. Why strike flint to steel, sparking kindling when you can flip a switch and illuminate an electric light, after all? Eventually, this preference for the easy path led them to lose their heritage and forget the wonder that they left behind. Pixies have given up flight for motorcycles, centaurs have traded their gallop for the gas guzzlers. In almost every case, the people of Onward have become complacent.
The Apostle Paul tells us that the Christian life is not meant to be easy. We aren’t called to accept salvation, then sit back and wait for the return of Christ. We are called to work out our faith. And you can’t just get up from the couch one day and decide that you are going to win a marathon. Running races takes disciplined work and training. When my son, the soldier, was able to run 9 miles at a pace of 8 1/2 minutes per mile (I am exceptionally proud of him!), he didn’t do it through being lazy. He worked hard on his overall fitness and his running specifically, for a very long time. Running a race with an eye toward victory takes dedication. That is what Paul tells us in various places in scripture, like:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
Moreover, our race is run over the years of our walk on Earth. Our imperishable wreath, a reward of Heaven. We must maintain discipline for our bodies. We are called to continually exercise self-control. Our rest at the end of the race is in the eternal life granted through Christ Jesus.
The Road of Peril
Barley seems to have learned this lesson. Through his exposure to the past in his game, he understands that nothing worthwhile comes out of a simple road trip. He knew that real growth would only be found by taking the less clear way. “The clear path is never the right one!”
This mantra was practically a paraphrase of our Savior when he said:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Our Christian walk is supposed to be difficult and filled with trials. Early Christians knew this and lived it when they suffered horrendous persecution, first at the hands of the Jews, then at the whim of the Roman empire. No Christian who reads the Word of God could reasonably come out of that study with an expectation of an easy time of life. Still, these trials are a source of joy!
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
In Onward, Ian has focused so much on the goal that he has lost sight of the journey. Barley understands this and leads Ian to a deeper understanding of the growth that comes through trials. Christians are blessed if/when we have a mentor with similar insight and willingness to guide us.
The Quest: Becoming Who You Are Meant to Be
Ian starts the Onward story as a socially awkward young man who has a vague idea of who he wants to be, of what is required of him. The problem is that all his attempts to bring that change about fail miserably. He knows in his heart what he needs to do, but he does not know how to how to do it. This is a spot-on parallel to the life of the pre-Christian. Before coming to Christ, we know the law—it’s written upon our hearts—but no matter how hard we try, we cannot seem to live up to it. We need a guide; a mentor to show us “the way, the truth, and the life.” This is why the Holy Spirit was sent to us, to counsel, and to guide.
This guidance is a great gift, just as Ian’s ability to do magic is a gift. This is something that Ian has to learn as he and Barley travel the path of peril. Growth comes through learning to use these gifts, like Ian and the bridge of trust. The gift is something that has to come about naturally, for the right reasons. Ian didn’t want it for the power it would give him, but to complete his father’s birthday wish for him and Barley. This is contrasted to Simon the Sorcerer from Acts 8, who sought the power of the Holy Spirit for power’s sake alone.
The power of the Spirit is a mark of the Christian. For the Apostles, it identified them as men who had been with Jesus. For us, it is more subtle but still identifies us as followers of Christ.
When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
In Onward, Barley has a boldness in his beliefs, which is an excellent example of the boldness that we Christians should have in the power of the Spirit! No matter what we do, we should remember that the Spirit not only guides us but equips us:
This is according to His eternal purpose accomplished in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord. In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. (Ephesians 3:11-12)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Having the Gift
In the world of Onward, a person can only perform magic if he has the gift. Ian Lightfoot has the gift; Barley does not. Likewise, you can only truly do good and have a chance of understanding the divine mysteries if you have the gift of the Spirit of God.
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
We are also admonished to not squander the gift of salvation, and those of the Spirit that are bestowed upon us.
Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. (1 Timothy 4:14)
In Onward, magic is a vague metaphor that can inspire the viewer to find their gift and embrace it. But for believers, there is no uncertainty. We are to embrace our gift and exercise it.
Parental Figures
Ian is the clear main character of Onward, and he sees the most change throughout the story. But, from the beginning of the movie to the end, how we see Barley changes far more. He goes from the super annoying older brother to the young man who has struggled with regret and was forced through circumstance to take on more responsibility than he was prepared. As Ian grew up, Barley was there to help in the best way he knew. As part of his growth, Ian understood this too. Barley wasn’t his dad, but it was with Barley that Ian was able to fulfill his checklist of things he wanted to do.
We are reminded through the Lightfoot family of how the Word of God consistently calls out the vulnerable classes of society as deserving of special mercies and considerations from believers. These are the people who have to face everything that life throws at you but without the normal tools and support. Widows and orphans are to be cared for. Travelers are to be welcomed.
You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. (Exodus 22:21-24)
Not only should we be aware of and providing for the physical needs of these vulnerable classes, but we should be willing to step in and mentor immature believers, leading them to spiritual growth and, in whatever ways we can, to Christ.
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