What I loved about Barley is that he wasn't the moody, jealous older sibling who spent the movie groaning why HE wasn't the chosen one since he was older. He was so legitimately and vibrantly happy for this brother to be the chosen one, and he wanted to help him succeed in any way possible. It was so refreshing to see such a loving, wholesome family member when it could've been so easy to follow the tropes instead.

Frozen: Sisterly Love Onward: *Brotherly Love*

"American cinema has trained us to want the perfect happy ending where everything is as we want it to be, and we kinda get upset when we don't get that." WHAT WE WANT VS. WHAT WE NEED!

''What is grief, if not love persevering?'' -Vision

Maybe not "don't grieve", but "don't lose yourself to grief" would be a better way to phrase it.

My favorite quote on grief is this one: "Grief, I've learned, is just really love. It's all the love you want to give but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corner of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hallow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go."

I don’t understand why barley is so hated by the fandom. Sure he was naive and a bit reckless but he was so empathetic and supportive to his brother. Even when his brother got to do magic and he didn’t even though he really wanted it, he wasn’t jealous or spiteful. He was supportive and happy for his brother the whole way through and helped him work with it throughout the journey

It makes sense that in the end he didn’t get to meet his dad because, in reality, if a parent passes before you knew them, you’re only going to know them through the people who did and this is showing that that’s more than okay. That’s pretty deep. It’s for those who would never get to meet someone so profoundly important to their existence.

I can't believe that people were upset that he didn't get to meet his dad. Seems like they missed the entire point of the movie!

I loved that he didn’t get to see his dad. It felt like the right ending. He realised his brother was his father figure, and that his brother needed to see their dad more than he did. He sacrificed for his brother. It’s a perfect analysis in character want vs need.

"You'll never be ready. Merge!" It best line in the film I think. It's that tough love that is not cruel. It's just that push to ignore that inner demon that holds you back.

One of the reason why I love Barley IS that with his design, he would certainly be a bully in a lot of other Disney movie but it's not the case at all! He remind me some of my metalhead friends that are often portrayed as Bad person on a lot of médias but who are in fact really nice and open minded. So to me, Barley and Ian are one of The most realistics duo created by Pixar and I just love their relationship troughout the movie! I wish it was less underated !

Barley is such an amazing character. In most movies, you don’t really get to see older brothers who are actually *good* older brothers. He’s openly affectionate and loving towards Ian, always protecting and supporting him. I think all kids should watch this movie. If no other reason than to show that siblings can have wonderful, meaningful relationships-especially in the face of grief.

This movie is so underrated. The way it can teach boys to be vulnerable, and silly, and honest, without feeling like they're not masculine, or not themselves.

Where this movie really broke me was in the scene where Barley confides in Ian about his fourth memory of their dad. That was the first time I felt a movie reach out of the screen and punch me in the gut. When my granddad developed dementia, I went to see him once. He was delighted that I was there, but he wasn't the same person that I had known. My granddad was strong, funny, and constantly energetic. But now he could barely speak, and his hand would shake when he held mine. It scared me, seeing him like that. A little while later, when my mom asked if I wanted to go see him again, I said no. Because I didn't want to confront that I was losing him, that in a way I had already lost so much of him even though he was still right there. He passed away before I could ever say that I wanted to see him one last time. I threw away my chance to say goodbye because I was scared. When Barley gave his confession, I felt like the movie had reached into my mind and shown me my greatest regret. I don't often cry at movies, but I did then. Because my pain felt seen. Onward was released on the day before my great-grandfather passed away. It was released the day after I went to see him in the hospital, and even though he was asleep, I said goodbye.

That scene where he says "YOU'LL NEVER BE READY, MERGE!" was THE FUNNIEST scene in a movie I think ever. I'M ALWAYS THE PASSENGER AND I FEEL THIS

I actually love how Ian never got to see his dad, because the ending actually shows that Barley was really the one who never had a father/father figure in his life

I just love that Alan got through Schindlers List dry-eyed but 5 seconds of Pixar got him again

as an older sister who unintentionally stepped into a fairly parental roll to my brother and sister i related a lot to Barley. the scene where Ian is thinking of all the time spent with his brother and how much he loves him hits me in the gut because so much of it feels familiar with my own siblings and it really makes me feel like I might actually be doing okay with this. i never asked for this roll and i don't want to be anything else but their sister, i just want them to know without question that they are loved

"He just didn't look like himself" hits home so hard. We've lost a lot of people the past few years, and I was there when it happened. My grandpa had aggressive cancer and basically wasted away, I watched them perform cpr on my grandma for 25 minutes after she passed, I was in the hospice room while my great grandma drowned because of fluid in her lungs. Honestly that statement is so true, at that point they don't look like the family that you knew.

Seriously? People were mad he didn't meet his dad? Did they not get the whole sequence about his brother being his dad?

So this is another movie where Chris Pratt plays a character who lost a parent, as a child, and was unable to fully say goodbye due to being overwhelmed by all the medical devices their dying parent were hooked up to.

If you watch the inside Pixar documentary, this movie is based off of the directors life, right down to the audio tape, the characters even look just like the directors family. I think its a perfect example of why it's important for artists like this to be creating movies of their life experiences that really resonate with their audiences.

I think my favorite part about this film is the ending, when Barley tells Ian that their father is very proud of the person he's grown up to be, and Ian responds saying he owes a lot of that to Barley, then Barley admitting that their father said that too. It really shows the empathy and selflessness of Barley that he would lead with what their father said about Ian, and it ends that theme of what characters need beautifully, because Barley knew Ian needed to hear that. It's likely his father shared even more with Barley but Barley knows that isn't important in the moment, because he respects his little brother's needs, and in turn Ian respects that he doesn't need to know everything their father told Barley in private. It's just all so great

I really like the characters of the parents too. The biological dad doesn’t appear completely but he is a person and feels like such instead of an angelic dead parent. He is goofy, bold, ridiculous and a terrible dancer but even without his upper half he really shows how much he loves his sons. The mom of the protagonists is not only alive (rare in Disney movies and anime so kudos for that) but she also gets the spotlight in the story and participates in the adventure. Heck, she defeats a dragon alongside her sons and in the end embarks on an adventure again. You could say that she has discovered herself too. The stepdad, the centaur, is a really realistic depiction of a new stepparent who genuinely cares about the boys and is trying his best (usually these stories fall into the evil stepparent trope) but doesn’t know how to get along with his stepchildren. He isn’t trying to replace the dad and when he sees Barley saying goodbye to Wilden he is not even jealous or insecure. Finding yourself seems to be a theme for secondary characters too and it’s one of the rare movies that shows parents as just people.

This movie is so true and heartfelt because the director made this movie based on his own experience. His father died before he was born, and he was raised by his mother and his older brother. The only clip of his voice they could find was a tape from some family gathering, and there was BARELY 3 seconds of audio of his dad. The director only had his older brother who was alive with his father, and their mother. This movie is amazing because it of real experience to light. It shows someone's true journey of healing. The whole mini documentary of how it was made is on Disney+ if anybody else is interested. :P Edit: The documentary is called Inside Pixar, and the Onward episode is the last in the series. Thank you @Rachel McKay for the tip!

Barley's 4th memory of his dad really hit home for me. Shortly before my grandfather died he called and wanted to talk to me. As a 12-year-old I hated phone calls and I was nervous because I knew he wasn't all there and wasn't sure how to talk to him. I told my mom no thanks, and I never go to talk to him again. Over a decade later that still haunts me.

The part when Barley talked about how he couldn't say goodbye to his dad when he was dying just... made me break when I first saw it. I just couldn't. It reminded me of my Granddaddy when he was dying of parkinson's disease and he was just... I didn't recognize him and I didn't want to speak to him because it hurt so much to see him just... in pieces.

My sister and I bawled during this movie. We have 13 years between us and, while we both have two extremely supportive and loving parents, I naturally stepped into an older sister/mother role, mainly because I had no idea what being a big sister looked like. Many of her early videos and photos were taken by me. When I was in my early 20's, we had an issue where neither of my parents could really watch her due to work, so I would leave my classes at college, pick her up, tend to the house and help her with her homework, make dinner, and then put her to bed. I remember one night she asked me to lay with her as she fell asleep, and I agreed. She held my hand as she drifted off and as I looked at her, I felt so much love for her that it felt like I would explode from happiness. And I laid there, as she slept, crying silently into the pillow. It was so hard to let go of her hand and leave that night. As the years have gone on, we've grown even closer. Many of her likes and interests mimic (if not are exactly) like mine. Many people (still) think she's my daughter because she looks more like me than she looks like my parents. And even though she won't say it to my parents, she's told me I'm her second mom. And to me, she's my first kid. The reason we both cried during this movie was because we had a visual picture that summed up our bond. She began remembering all of these things that I had forgotten--like how I taught her to swim, gave her life advice, or encouraged her. I always struggle with feeling like the screw up in the family. To hear her say all of these things helped me realize that if I didn't do anything in else in my life right, "raising" her was the best thing I ever did. Needless to say this is one of our favorite movies.

"You were my roommate" TELL ME WHY this is the first time I realized that they're actually friends and he isn't just broadcasting his therapy sessions to us all... I need help

One thing I loved about Barley is that, even though he was the one so into magic that one could call him obsessed, he never acted /envious/ towards Ian for being the one who could DO magic. Instead, he was thrilled for him. I loved that. Also just loved Barley in general, the way he aways was there for Ian. Like you said, he stepped into the father role. It’s beautiful.

My dad left before I was born, and because he left instead of dying, my family didn't see the need for me to grieve or to step in to feel the gap from my not having a father figure. I also don't have any siblings. This movie really spoke to me because I have always wanted to know more about my father (I know literally nothing) and ask my father why he left in the first place #cyingwithAlan

"I wanted to cry" "And this film has a Pixar in front of its title" "It's Pixar, therefore I will cry" This is too relatable. Especially Onward. I've cried during pretty much every single film Pixar's released, but usually I can rewatch little clips of those films and I feel fine.. The short clips in this video however, had me sobbing. Love this story so much! Thoroughly enjoyed your analysis too - thanks guys!

I was in the camp of, “Are you kidding me? He didn’t get to meet his dad?” I understood the narrative on paper, but I just didn’t connect to this. I was just sad. After hearing this breakdown, I had a breakthrough. I had no relationship with my dad, my mother was a major gaslighter. I had to cut ties with all family a lot of years ago. I never got parented and never found a surrogate parent because I kept going to people like my mother and would end up getting burned. Duh. I just stopped trying to find that person. Even though I’m 30, I still grieve that lack of connection. That hole gets smaller with time, but it’s still there. Thanks guys. I figured out why I hated this movie even though it was a very good movie. Gained some perspective.

I lost my older brother in 2019, never had my father in my life. Sadly after he passed I realized that my brother was that father figure I needed and unfortunately never got the chance to thank him for this. This movie honestly brought that to life and I cried like a baby❤

I loved that he gave up meeting his dad so his brother could have that last moment he missed before their dad died. It was beautiful.

When he slowly checked those boxes in the list, that's where I lost it. I was a mess and I think ppl should stop comparing this to frozen just cuz it's abt siblings, it has a different message

i don't get how people can be mad at onward's ending and still enjoy other pixar movies. like onward isn't the first pixar movie to have a bittersweet ending like that, imagine if carl got to keep his house. wouldn't hit the same, right?

I like how the meaning of “Share my life with him” changed from sharing just his “story” with his dad to actually sharing life with his brother

18:02 the happiness on his face when he sees his brother get what he’s always wanted. That’s real love

"stupid Pixar... we're just sitting here watching it" "You know you guys were too" ...Don't call me out like that

This was an underrated movie. We have too much romance stuff and we never have stuff about good siblings or unconventional plots

I connected with Barley a lot. I'm the "screw up" older brother. I feel like Barley just defines success differently than most people, and they don't really see his real value until the end.

This is my favorite Pixar movie. As an older sibling who had to take on a parental role I had to step up and be a somewhat father figure to my youngest sibling. I see myself in Barley as does my sibling. We got so close after this movie came out and I owe this movie so much. Having a 12-year-old age gap made so much of a distance between us, but Onward gave us some common ground.

I just finished watching their "inside out " analysis and I'm ugly crying like hell.can't wait for this

The part of this movie that makes me cry the hardest is when Barley is talking about not going in to the hospital room. It reminds me of when my grandma was admitted into the hospital for a few days. (Which wasn't uncommon for her) The night before she passed away my parents took me and my little sister aside to let us know that this was a little more serious than the other times, and that she might not recover and could die from it. They told us to take the moment in properly and prepare for things to go south. However, I was childishly in denial, and believed that, odds are, everything would be fine. She'd been in the hospital multiple times before, and had been fine. She was still relatively young. She had the doctors and her two medically trained kids looking after her. 'I'll see her again tomorrow.' I thought. I remember being kind of checked out during the hospital visit. I worried for her, but didn't want to believe that she wouldn't be okay. I remember being tired, and wanting to go home. I gave her a chaste hug and a simple goodbye. I remember choosing to go to school the next morning, instead of waking up early to visit her again. The next thing I knew, my teacher came up to me, telling me that my mom was pulling me out of class early. As I got in the car, my mom told me that my grandma's condition had worsened severely. They had put her under for a surgery, only to find out too late that her vitals weren't in the right place to safely proceed with the surgery, and for the same reason, they couldn't wake her up. So the next time I saw her, she was asleep. And she remained asleep until she passed away about two hours later. I might have been able to talk to her one last time, if I had chosen to visit her instead of going to school, but I hadn't. So I never gave her a proper goodbye, and I didn't get the chance to hear her give me one. And it breaks my heart till this very day. Whenever I hear Barley in this scene, it's as though I'm listening to myself. And that's a hurt that will never go away, no matter how many times I watch it.

Barley's line hurts the most for me, because it's the same reason I didn't go to see my grandpa when he was dying. I still get upset when thinking about it, and feeling bad that I chose not to. But I'm grateful my dad understood why when I said no.

My dad also died when my mum was pregnant with me and my sister was two when he passed. This movie really helped me. I always wanted to know what my dad was like because im always told that i look and act exactly like him. Thx for this guys.

Personally, I didn’t mind that Ian never got to meet his dad. What I thought was really unfortunate was that his dad never got to meet him. The guy seems like he would be pretty at peace with his terrible situation. His one regret would be in having a son he never gets to meet. And he doesn’t get his final wish to resolve his regret. Ian gets what he needs even though he doesn’t get what he wants. I don’t think his dad really gets all he needs. Which happens...but it sucks.

"Pain is the price we pay to experience love." 20 secs later "It's fizzy!" lol

When Barley confided in Ian about their dad not looking like himself, I almost broke down crying. I thought back to one of the last times I went and saw my maternal grandmother in the hospital about the same age as Barley was when his dad died (5 or 6). She too was hooked up to a whole bunch of machines, and while she was still acting like the Grandma Kiki I knew, it scared me a little because of how weak she looked. I think I did get to tell her something along the lines of "i'll miss you, grandma" before I left, but yeah. Seeing a loved one looking like that right before you lose them is rough, especially when you're really young

This is so gorgeous. My brother became my mum and dad the moment I was born. I only have 3 pictures of me as a baby and in each my brother is holding me smiling. Siblings can be many things. If you have a close one it’s usually for a reason. My brother is my best friend and I’m very proud of him. This is lovely. Thank you

This movie is seriously underrated compared to all the other popular pixar movies.

Coco is another movie that really dives into family and betrayal and relationships and memories and identity. Good for when you need your next cry. :)

I love that Barley’s the one that gets to talk to their dad at the end. ❤

You articulated what I've been trying to say about the ending to this movie in a way I was never able to. I don't understand why people hate that he didn't get to see his dad in the end, because to me that solidifies the point of the movie. Ian doesn't need to see his dad because he's always had Barley. And Barley gets to have closure with finally saying goodbye after that being one of his biggest regrets. It's a very bittersweet ending that subverts the expectation of a perfectly happy ending and I really enjoyed that.

I'm the mother of 2 kids (8 and 11) who lost their dad 3 years ago and have avoided watching this film with them because of the subject. I was thrilled to see you did a video on it and I love so much of what you had to say. We're planning this as our next movie night now.

In Dolly Parton's "Christmas on the Square" there's a line that says, "Grief is love with no where to go."

It really got me when Jonathan asked Alan: "Is it healing for you [to be able to help make good, healthy, loving memories for your kids]". Because I grew up with 2 very emotionally unavailable and inconsistent parents... my mother was also very emotionally abusive. Now that I'm 20 and I'm in therapy, learning to recover memories from my childhood and dig deeper into those relationships, I feel a lot of grief and sadness for the family I wish I had but never did. One day I know I will be a loving parent for my kids and hopefully, that will be healing for me too.

I really loved that the older brother got to see their dad again. Sometimes in life, we need to realize that /we/ need to be the supporting role for someone else. We can't be the protagonist 100% of the time. I didn't think this was the best movie, but thematically and ideally the concepts and plot were amazing

This movie DESTROYED my brother and me. We have different fathers, we don't know who mine is and his is never really there. As an older sister, seeing Barley be the surrogate, to see how important he was to Ian's life when it was lacking such an important figure in their life... It makes me so happy and makes me BAWL. To see on screen how important siblings are to each other made me and my brother break down. When Ian goes through his check list to do with his dad and realizes he did it all with Barley? Ugly crying. Every time. I've come to terms with my relationship with my father, but my brother is ten and I'm not sure how he feels, but I think we left this movie feeling closer. This movie really reinforced that I am who I am not because of who made me, but who raised me... My brother and I needed that representation...

I love the last line, when Barley says he's supposed to give Ian something from dad and the thing is a hug. And it's just a perfect wrap up of everything that made Barley a dad figure for him and how this way both of the boys got one last hug from their dad. How you could see in Ians eyes that he felt like it was his father hugging him in a way...

I completely understand why people would be mad that Ian never saw his dad. But I know from experience that its probably better this way. My dad, the one who raised me, died when I was 14. I knew he wasn't my bio dad but never met my real one. After he died I wanted to meet him but then he passed away before I got the chance a year later. I sometimes regret never even seeing him and only hearing stories (very sim. to the movie). but then I thought it would taint the image I have of the one who was there for me and actually raised me. This movie helps me move past that in showing that its ok to not know. The person that was there is the one you focus on. Its a unique take but a very good one.

I didn't know what I was getting into when I started this movie. I thought it was going to be a fun animated movie but when he realized his brother was the dad he always wanted hit me in the heart 💘💝 I was crying so hard. My brother died on the anniversary of our mother's death and I was alone watching this.

36hours until I’ll be inevitably ugly crying to a video? Can’t wait Edit: You did not disappoint. Great video guys

I like to point out that the determination of "New Me" started at his school, and the quest ended AT HIS SCHOOL! As a grown person!

Lost my mom at 25 too, I need her so much now. I realized how much I never asked, I had my first child and I would have given anything to have her there for questions and stories, and for my child's life. I'm so sad she won't have my amazingggggg mom in her life, especially all the baby tone she could have gotten during the pandemic.

This movie makes me cry every time without fail. I raised my younger siblings and this movie just hits me right in the soft spot.

When he whispered “bold” my little sister looked up and said with the most deadpan face: “No hair?” She then had the audacity to look confused when I laughed

Onward is such a good movie. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Can't wait for the therapist insight!

Man. This one had me crying like 3 minutes in when Ian was talking to his dads old college mate. My father passed away when I was 18, before I really cared about who he was, or really any stories he had. There is so much I don’t know about him, and I don’t talk to his side of the family because they disowned me for living with my mother right before he passed (like I had much of a choice). I get very sad thinking I don’t know much about my dad. I do have a lot of memories with him, but I wish I knew him and his story better, especially from the bits and pieces i do know, I wish I knew more. 😭

"pain is the price we pay to experience love" that line hit me really hard for some reason. It's a price worth paying every single time

"I'm not ready" "You'll never be 'ready'" What a wonderful way to remind yourself of just how much we can but shouldn't let our fear dictate our progress

"It has a Pixar, therefore I will cry..." "Gosh Dangit, Pixar." Me, too, Alan. Meee toooooo.

Vision said it best: “What’s grief if not love persevering?”

18:00 I don't even see this scene as "Ethans trying to get a glimpse of his dad". Look at the focal point of the frame. His dads got his back turned and hes off to the side. Barley is dead center with a full frontal view. Ethan is trying to see how Barley's conversation is going. HE'S the focus. Its just so beautiful.

I loved the ending. Barley was always Ian's link to his dad, so having Barley be the one at the end who got to have a quick conversation with their dad: a) gave Barley a proper chance to say goodbye. And B) Barley still has to relay what their dad said to Ian, he continues to be that link between the two of them.

3.5 years after my dad died and I have tried to watch this once and made it not even half-way.

I preferred that he didn’t meet his dad- I remember being a kid and wishing to have my dad, but the day I realized the same thing Ian did it all clicked. It wasn’t his dad who gave him all of those memories- it was his brother who stepped in when he was needed the most.

this is one of my favourite movies, because it doesn't focus directly on just ian and he doesnt get to see his dad, bc life isnt like that, we dont always get what we want, but in this movie they get what they need and it makes life so much more hopeful and gratifying

“Music elevates, wonderful moment” Alan: stupid Pixar. Best moment

“There are no happy endings, because nothing ever ends.” -The Last Unicorn. A dark fantasy from 1982 you may also enjoy. Thank you for this review, there’s something in it for us all.

“What is grief, if not love persevering” -Vision

In a way, it's very therapeutic for me to watch these videos and see grown men cry and not be completely ashamed by it. My entire life I was constantly told that crying wasn't something that men or boys did. It was unmanly, or a sign of weakness. Here is two grown men willing to show hundreds of thousands if not millions of people, tears in their eyes. Very therapeutic indeed.

Barley and Ian are literally me and my sister. We watched this movie together and kept seeing ourselves; she's a shy, quiet, kid with anxiety and I'm her nerdy, D&D loving, older sister who constantly embarrasses her with my social ineptitude (on the autism spectrum- don't people well). Seeing them work through their differences and grow closer has really improved our relationship and how we support each other.

My favourite thing about Barley is that all his life he's been into magic more than anyone, wanting to use it and learn it but as soon as he finds out its his brother who is the "chosen one" he doesn't get jealous or angry or shallow, he just jumps right in and starts telling him everything he knows he's just happy he gets to be a part of it, even if it isn't him doing it himself. He's just happy for his little brother.

I LOVE onward, especially for the sibling portrayal. I don't know, there is something true in it. I relate a lot to Barley. Takes space, have good intentions but push you to far, reckless and obsessed with magic? Heck yes! And I love how they clearly love each other but still argue a lot

I like how you guys aren't scared to cry in front of the cameras and feel secure enough to share your feelings and details about your lives. I really like this channel and its videos.

Oh man this movie, all the little moments where Barley puts Ian first without him even noticing. Like when they almost drown and he pulls Ian to the surface first, it's just so beautiful!

That dang checklist gets me everytime because it makes me think of my "dad bucket list" from when my father passed away and finding father figures in my older brother and mother. I absolutely love this movie.😭🥺🖤I can't replace this lost but, I can be there for you so that your not alone... When Ian says I didn't have a father but, I had you.😭😭😭😭🙌

The part where the older brother talks about the 4th memory hit me extremely hard. I did the same thing. My father was dying from cancer and instead of saying goodbye like I wanted to, the medication he was on, the way he looked and how he was barely even there mentally-he just wasn’t himself. So I didn’t go in the room. I was scared. I didn’t want to face him. So I just left. He ended up dying that night and I have always felt so guilty that I didn’t go in there and face it like a man and say goodbye to him. He just died alone and miserable. All the things he’s ever done for me and I just walked out like a coward. I was 15 then and it’s been almost 10 years now, but I still feel this way and I regret it so much.

That one dislike is probably from someone who didn't like feeling so attacked with emotions. I understand bruh, I teared up a couple of times even though we didn't even watch the whole movie.

The thing I never knew I needed. Lost my grandmother in March. Lost my father in May. Times are rough right now :(

The scene of Barley talking about his fourth memory with his dad hits me really hard. Both my parents are alive and well today, but when I was 13, I almost lost my mom in a car accident that left her with minor TBI. I remember seeing her unconscious and hooked up to those tubes. I'm going to be honest: It didn't really hit me at that time. I was like, "Okay, she's alive, she's going to be just like she was when she gets back home!" I was kinda wrong. She was still there, but she was still adjusting to her disability and nearly dying in that accident. The empathetic and sassy devoted mom I knew was still there, but she was really hurting and I didn't understand that. I didn't realize it for a while until I started counseling recently, but I was grieving my mom at the time even though she was still alive. My mom is still alive and she's my hero, but I'm still dealing with the after effects of dealing with that trauma, so that scene brought up some really bad memories.

This one hit so fucking close to home. My dad died when I was younger, mom is a narcissist, basically I raised my brothers. I love that here Pixar didn’t try to replace the father figure; the brother is the brother and still he’s enough to get the younger one by. Haven’t seen that portrayed well maybe ever.

I WAS pregnant, but I cried so hard during this movie. When Ian was looking back on all the ways Barley filled the missing space of his dad, but way more when Ian gave up his chance to meet their dad so Barley could have one more moment with him. Oof. All the feels.

My Grampy died of cancer in 2006 and even as a young adult seeing him hooked up to machines was hard. So I don’t blame Barley for not wanting to go into the room as a small child.

I just lost my little brother. I am the eldest, and I was 14, when our mother died. This episode, really spoke to me. The ironic part, was that my brother loved Mountain Dew, to the point, that his pastor put a pack of Mountain Dew, on his podium, when he led my brother's Memorial Service. Thank you, once again, Jonathan and Alan, for your amazing insights!

I absolutely love this movie. I have a very strained and difficult relationship with my own father, I do not speak to him and I always wished I had a father figure to look up to when I was growing up. I have a brother who’s almost two decades older than me, and when I got older I realized he had filled that role for me. I got to share so much of my life with him and he stuck with me through the best and worst times. As much as I mourn the broken relationship with my dad, I will forever cherish the bond I have with my brother. There’s something very special about sibling love.

There’s about a million things I could say about this movie, but the biggest thing is that this movie made me cry, not because of anything in the movie, but how it related to my life. I’ve never been close to my dad but there were plenty of other men in my life who filled a fatherly role. Because of this movie, I now call those men my “Barleys”.