Not nearly what I expected but WOW!!

Rating: 9/10 (29 August 2009)

If you go into this movie expecting it to be the typical light-hearted Pixar fare you're in for a surprise. Pixar took a pretty big risk with this story, and despite what the nay-sayers think, UP shatters the stereotypical animated-movies-are-only-for-kids template and delivers a winner. Yes, the movie deals with some very grown-up subjects such as grief, disillusionment and loss. You WILL be crying within the first fifteen minutes - and that's okay. Detractors fail to grasp UP's two-part message: First, you are NEVER too young or too old to follow your dreams and second, life is the greatest adventure off all, whether or not you actually find your dream.
I loved Carl & Ellie because they represent something all-too-rarely seen in movies of any kind these days: a pair of soulmates who start out life with big dreams but never quite seem to achieve them because reality keeps rearing its ugly head. Nevertheless their love for and commitment to one another grows and grows throughout in good times and bad.
Russell is annoying but not overly so, and has one of my favorite lines: "Sometimes, it's the boring stuff I remember most."
The only part I really didn't care for were the dogs (with the notable exception of Dug). Pixar went WAY overboard with them.
And you simply MUST watch the credits all the way through. Some of those merit badges are HYSTERICAL!!