Movie Review: Up

"Up" marks Pixar's tenth film and also its most mature. While there are plenty of fun and goofy moments, similar to those that have made their films audience favorites since "Toy Story" in 1995, "Up" takes on more adult themes such as the loss of a loved one.

The first 15 minutes of the film begins with the budding romance of Carl and Ellie, two children fascinated with the idea of exploration and both enamored with the world-renowned adventurer Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer).

Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner) marries the woman of his dreams and their life is shown through a voiceless montage gives witness to the courtship of Carl and his wife Ellie, their early marriage, medically proscribed childlessness, financial setbacks, and Ellie’s eventual illness and death.

One of the things that most moved me about "WALL-E," was the fact that despite all of its eye candy and sci-fi trappings, it was essentially a love story, and an incredibly sweet one at that. The same can be said about "Up," as the film is anchored by Carl’s everlasting love for his dead wife. Their life together, despite containing its share of sadness and broken dreams, is the kind of life we all dream of- and by the time the montage reaches it’s inevitable conclusion, don’t be surprised if you’re choking back a few tears.

When Ellie passes away, a devastated Carl is left to fend for himself against a world that seems to have no use for him. After a greedy land- developer
tries to have him carted off to a retirement community, in order to steal his land, Carl decides to once and for all, fulfill his life long dream of exploring South America. With the help of 10,000 helium filled balloons, Carl is able to make his house into his own personal blimp, and soon takes to the skies. However, Carl has an unwanted passenger- a hyper-active, eight-year old “Wilderness Explorer” named Russell, who is intent on earning his “assisting the elderly” merit badge. The two eventually land in Paradise Falls- located deep in the Venezuelan jungle, where they meet among other things, a talking dog named Dug, and the now elderly, and unhinged, Muntz.

The film is visually stunning and Pixar animation again at its finest. You don't miss anything if you only see the movie in 2-D. Making the film in 3-D added nothing to the already gorgeous animation and the story carries the movie more than any 3-D technology.

Still, the best thing about this movie is the story and characters. Each character in the film is developed and given enough background to satisfy anyone's curiosity., Heck, even the talking dog was a fully formed character with a complete, and nuanced arc.

Adults and kids together can enjoy the film for its humor and moral points.
9/10
“But it’s a TALKING DOG!!”
Sources: Rope of Silicon, JoBlo, UGO Movie Blog