A Very Up-Lifting Adventure Tale

Rating: 10/10 (7 June 2009)

"Up" is so far the best picture I have seen all year. In a slow season of movies, and the year is almost halfway done, I am glad I can write about an outstanding animated feature that would appeal to all ages. I like this one much better than "Monsters vs. Aliens," the previous film I reviewed because this movie relies on careful character development and an interesting story, rather than "Guess which celebrity does this voice? Pick out the celebrity's personality and features in the drawings and you'll know who," needless pop culture references which can bore the most discerning adult film-goer, and violent action. That's right. The reason why Pixar animated movies, and "Up" is the 10th Pixar movie, always do so well, I can say even better than DreamWorks animation, because they are interested in plots and characters, where most DreamWorks animated movies in recent years such as "Monsters vs. Aliens" can border on vulgar pop culture and celebrity parodies.
The visuals and colors are breathtaking. The story is beautifully constructed and richly textured. The plot brings out all sorts of emotions to us. It can be funny, touching without being melodramatic, action-packed without being violent, and we get to delve into the lives of each main character around.
We meet Carl Fredericksen as a young boy interested in flying adventures. He watches a newsreel of his hero Charles Muntz, a famous explorer who flew on a giant airlift to Paradise Falls in tropical Venezuela. However, Muntz is accused of bringing back fake fossils, so years later he sets out for a real giant, colorful ostrich. In the neighborhood, he meets young Ellie, a tomboy who likes to dabble in flying around the world. What follows is a very poignant footage set to music of Carl and Ellie getting married, living in a house the fix up, saving money into a gallon jug in the hopes of traveling to Paradise Falls, but too many expenses get in the way, growing older, and eventually Ellie dies. The footage is not at all maudlin, but it does touch the way we all live.
Fast forward to the present day. The elder Carl (voiced cantankerously by Ed Asner) is left alone and his beloved house is about to be taken away and he would have to go to a retirement home. No, he says, as he blows up all the balloons attached to his house and flies it off the ground on his own. Joining him is a young wilderness scout named Russell, who becomes Carl's loyal sidekick and friend. The two take off to Paradise Falls, where Carl always wanted to go all his life. They meet up with a big colorful ostrich Russell names Kevin and a cute dog named Dug, who become welcome allies. The conflict of the adventure is that they see Charles Muntz (voiced convincingly by Christopher Plummer), who is after the ostrich that Carl is now friends with. Aided by Muntz are a large pack of vicious-looking robotic dogs which bring comic relief to the movie. But at the end, Carl's dream is fulfilled and more wonderful things happen, even without Ellie in person.
Pixar movies always have a heartfelt message, which is why they are always on a roll. The message of "Up" is that if you live long enough and you never give up, you can always have your dreams come true. "Up" is rated PG for mild peril and action.