Heart-warming family film for everyone

Rating: 9/10 (23 September 2019)

Up, an animated Pixar film, truly captivates its viewers from the very beginning and tells the story of an old man finding a passion for life again through the adventures with an unlikely friend. Carl, whose voice is played by Edward Asner, is an older man who lives on his own, and is rather grumpy and upset with life after the passing of his soulmate, Ellie. Upon getting stuck with Russell, an upbeat boy scout an eager sense of exploration, they both embark on a journey to Paradise Falls while floating away in Carl's house. This movie is sure to excite both young and old members of the family, as it explores the practical nuances of life and getting old. The beauty of this film is the relatability and how plausible a lot of the underlying themes are for people to experience within their life. One will be hooked almost instantly, after being enticed by the cinematic editing and heartfelt moments of watching Carl's and Ellie's life together. Losing a life-long spouse, dealing with old-age and loneliness, and trying to find the beauty in life after hardships are all things that Up does a fantastic job of covering all while taking viewers on a beautiful adventure with Carl and Russell.
Russell, whose voice is played by Jordan Nagai, is a thoroughly bright spot throughout the film. Upbeat and charismatic, viewers seem to really enjoy the message Russell seems to give off; Never stop exploring and seeking things out in life. In essence, never let the child inside you fully die. While the friendship between Russell and Carl is quite odd, it is often times hilarious, especially at the beginning of the movie, and it truly shows a beautiful contrast of people's perceptions of life. His bright and bubbly attitude is only exemplified throughout the film, by subtle que's such as the bright colorful balloons used for the ship to float away, and the overall beautiful, fluorescent nature of Paradise Falls. This use of specific bright and bubbly colors shows a sense of progression or newfound appreciation for life again by Carl.
This film is sure to be an emotional rollercoaster, and genuinely speaking, the first five minutes of this film are in my humble opinion, iconic for Pixar. The film is one for everyone, and while there are moments of undoubtable children "magic", the story for this film is so magnificent, it will keep everyone intrigued throughout. In contrast with other children films, there are little that draw this much personal emotional pull. While films like Wall-E have been a big hit in the past, the relatable thematic nature of love, loss, and recovery is one everyone can connect with.