The 1st Pixar disappointment.

Rating: 6/10 (11 June 2009)

While the 1st 25 minutes was superb in every way, the rest of the movie plodded along with a ridiculous and silly story line. The very poignant messages that were introduced in the beginning get overshadowed, and rarely revisited, by a bombardment of inane scenes and unlikable characters.
The kid scout was annoying and morbidly obese (and eats chocolate constantly) the idolized explorer is really a ego-centric and sadistic sort. There's next to no character development. Our lead character, well voiced by Ed Asner, although old enough to need a cane, magically runs and lassos his house for most of the film. There was no sympathy written in for the hunted big bird or the enslaved dogs. Somehow when the helium was running out and the balloon count was depleting, the house would later rise again. The story was inane. I would have preferred a more concerted effort in betraying the real messages of the film: Cherish your loved ones, live a full life, be cautious of false idols, don't be a slave to material possessions, help your fellow man, follow your dreams, live up to your promises- all the things outline in the 1st 25 minutes which all get abandoned for the rest of the film.
The look was what we expect from Pixar- highly polished,detailed, vibrant and resolute but I would have liked to see more 3-D FX as there were no instances of things coming at you or from behind you, but the depth rendering was superb. Overall, I was bored and couldn't wait for it to end.