Onward is the latest film to arrive from Disney's Pixar studio. Released in theaters earlier this month and now available for digital purchase due to the restrictions spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, it will also be available for streaming on Disney+ in April. Set in a fantasy world with all the trappings of suburbia intact, Onward is the tale of two teenaged elf brothers voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt. As with any new movie released by the acclaimed animation studio, fans may be interested to know how John Ratzenberger, Pixar's most prolific voice actor, fits into the world of Onward.
For many people of a certain age, John Ratzenberger will always be beloved for the his role as Cliff in the '80s TV sitcom Cheers. Cliff was a cheerful postal worker who would join Sam, Norm, and the rest of the regulars at the Boston bar where he would annoy and amuse them with his flow of often incorrect information. However, younger generations know him mainly for his voice, as Raztzenberger is the only actor to have brought to life a character in every Pixar film. Every one! He started with 1995's Toy Story and is still around for Onward.
So, which character does John Ratzenberger voice in Onward? Keep an eye out for Fenwick, a construction worker. It's a brief bit of voice work, but he makes it count. Fenwick attempts to prevent Chris Pratt's Barley Lightfoot character from interacting with a fountain that he's convinced is magical. However, it has been condemned and is off limits. For those of you counting, this is the third time Ratzenberger has found himself voice acting as a construction worker for Pixar. He also gave voice to similar blue collar characters in 2009's Up and 2015's Inside Out.
Ratzenberger's Pixar roles have ranged greatly in size. In Toy Story, and all of its sequels, he lent his voiceover skills to Hamm, a quick-witted piggy bank. He also had a choice role in the Cars series as Mack, a big rig truck. As Mack he delivered quips like, "Ah, don't worry about it, kid. It's the least I could do. After all, gas can is my middle name." In 2007's Ratatouille, which is set in a restaurant in France, Ratzenberger pulls off a French accent as the large waiter Mustafa, who sports a pencil-thin mustache. And in 2017's Coco, he uttered just one word as Juan Ortodoncia. That word? "Gracias."
There's another Pixar movie on the way this year, Soul, so fans should keep an ear out for Ratzenberger's distinctive voice again in that movie. Or, if Soul ends up being delayed due to the current coronavirus shutdown, a Pixar movie marathon is a good way to pass the time during self-isolation.
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