Movie Review - 'Up'

Up Featuring the voices of Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, and Jordan Nagai Directed by Pete Docter Rated PG

Up is the tenth Pixar movie in 14 years and the first one the company has ever made in 3-D. With the remarkable – perhaps even unmatched – reputation the studio has with its audience, Pixar has broadened the artistic horizons of mass appeal animation over the past few movies, especially last year's Wall-E. Even with the 3-D, Up is not the staggering technical achievement of that film, but it is likely more accessible and may feel more familiar, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. The story seems borne out of a childhood daydream: Tying thousands of helium balloons to a house and taking a joyride in the clouds to South America, all wit/eet on the ground, now filled with melancholia over never taking that trip with his late wife, Carl Fredrickson (Ed Asner) pursues their shared dream of visiting Paradise Falls in Venezuela. As children, Carl and his future wife Ellie looked up to the dashing explorer Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), who somewhat poetically vanished looking for a lost civilization over Paradise Falls, hence Carl's unending fascination. It is the common thread that links two kids who grow up and fall in love. There is a montage early in the film that illustrates the life and memories that Carl and Ellie shared, filled with as much disappointment as happiness. It might be the most beautiful storytelling Pixar has ever envisioned. It will be hard for any other scene this year to match its depth and emotional impact. And somehow, it fits in perfectly with a fairly silly buddy action movie, involving a septaugenerian, a chubby kid who has stowed away on the floating house trying to earn merit badges as a Wilderness Explorer, and a talking dog. The best thing about Up is that this South American adventure keeps getting better. Director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.) continues to develop Carl's character even though the plot becomes more about a balloon-drawn house reaching its destination. Asner, as should be expected of a guy who has won more Emmy Awards than most people have had addresses, makes Carl a believable curmudgeon who slowly peels away layers of grumpiness. Something should be said about the 3-D in Up, particularly that it's entirely unnecessary. The story is unique, especially in this summer climate of sequels and remakes, and the animation is not groundbreaking in any way. It shouldn't make an overwhelmingly positive impact on the film's box office, simply because it doesn't need the help of a gimmick to generate interest. This one's better than advertised. For the better part of two hours, Up puts us in a floating house and carries us away, despite all logic to the contrary. Pixar is known for making family films that truly offer something for everyone. Adults enjoy these movies as much as kids, maybe even more. And Up could be one of Pixar's absolute best.

Comments

[Visu]

Colin I must say - Until you saw the movie you thought that this could be the movie that ends Pixar's streak, that this could be the most unimaginative movie Pixar could make - and now you are eating your words. After I saw Finding Nemo I decided not to judge any Pixar movie before seeing it - coz I thought (based on the trailers) that Finding Nemo would be a big flop - no one would want to see a movie on fishes getting lost (boy was I wrong) - Nemo is my favoritest Pixar movie (dont know how Up matches up with Nemo)

[Josh]

It seems you really liked this movie, what keeps it from being 5 dirty apes?

[Get The Big Picture]

I wouldn't say I'm eating my words, just that the trailers and clips were uninspiring. And they are. Happens all the time. I thought Australia looked great and it was bad, and we only need to go back a week to find a major disappointment in the finished product vs. the trailers.

I will say, though, that this isn't terribly imaginative by the recent standards of Pixar, but it's nice story that Pete Docter just tells the hell out of. That kind of movie always wins and you can't really predict it based on the trailer.

[Get The Big Picture]

What's keeping it from Five Apes? It's my fifth favorite Pixar flick, and only three have gotten Five.

[debt relief]

This movie is awesome. Thank you for posting this and telling me to see it. It was worth every penny.

[Linda]

Do NOT see this movie! It is horribly depressing and sad! My poor elderly in-laws were devasted!

[Get The Big Picture]

What, did you leave nine minutes in?

[Sean]

WOW

Up was incredible what a beautiful wonderfully told story...

It was pure and real and truthful and just an inspiration!

What an emotionally impactful and exceedingly hilarious film...

I did not ever expect to witness such a story coming from an animation ..

I tell ya, Pixar and films such as these blow movies with humans and people out of the water, I mean it seems filmmaking in this area has greatly risen while real life human films are steadily progressing...

The only bad thing I have to say about UP is that it ended!!!

A must see!