unforgettable movie, equally laugh-out-loud funny and wistfully nostalgic

Rating: 10/10 (22 March 2010)

Pixar are continuing their winning streak with this uplifting (yeah!) masterwork. "Up" takes an unusual, awkward premise and turns it into an unforgettable movie, equally laugh-out-loud funny and wistfully nostalgic. Let's start from the beginning. The first 10-minute montage depicting elderly Carl Friedrikson's life is mesmerizing to the point that it ranks among the most poignant ones ever created. What's following is more adventure/comedy-oriented material with its blend of electrifying action sequences resembling "The Incredibes". Up's own identity is unquestionable though. In a nutshell, the movie is about putting the past in perspective, about gaining the distance to the past events and eventually accepting them. All three central characters deal with a painful loss of some kind. Carl mourns her late wife Ellie, young Russell misses his now distant father and ex-celebrity adventurer turned villain Charles Muntz has lost his credibility chasing supposedly imaginary bird. It's not the climax that matters here that much, but the journey towards this finality. On their journey, Carl and Russell meet a wonderfully goofy bird named Kevin and a sweet talking dog called Dug. Their adventures, albeit exciting, require certain risks and sacrifices. "Up" blends fantastic with realistic: it's the first Pixar film where blood is visibly shed and death is dealt with so prominently. All these adult themes may seem too much for a kid-friendly movie, but directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson do such a wonderful job of keeping all the aspects of the story balanced and characters easily reliable. "Up" is a fully accomplished exercise in escapism that soars every time it should fall. Superbly executed and enthralling in its ideas, it raises the bar so immensely high.