This is an animated film that truly soars.

Rating: 9/10 (27 September 2009)

As a child Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) was always interested in adventure. He shared this passion with his childhood friend and sweetheart Ellie. They were both fans of the explorer Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer) and when they married they had always planned to travel to South America. Yet through the opening montage of Up we learn that Carl and Ellie weren't always able to fulfil their life goals together, such as travelling or having children. In the present day, as a cranky old man and a widower, Carl is still living in the same house and neighbourhood. He wishes to be left alone, particularly when he is bothered by a young scout named Russell (Jordan Nagai). Yet following an altercation with a construction worker, Carl is set to be moved out of his home. To avoid being put into a retirement village he attaches hundreds of balloons to his house to fly to South American for an adventure, unaware that Russell is onboard as well.
The superiority of Pixar films to other animated features is evident both visually and thematically. Where others regularly indulge in the monotonous idea of the smallest person can who make a difference, Pixar films such as Up, refreshingly delve into much deeper and more mature territory. The montage at the beginning of the film, which details Carl's life and marriage to Ellie, is a fine example of this. Without dialogue, the film proceeds to visualise its central theme: that life itself often detours our real ambitions. Certainly one of the most powerful moments from the montage is the juxtaposition between scenes, where Carl and Ellie are painting a baby's room together and yet in the next passage they are grieving in the doctor's room, suggesting that Ellie lost the baby and was unable to have children. This is a surprisingly emotional moment in the film, offering a level of poignancy rarely seen in animated pictures. Details such as this are significant in adding depth to Carl's persona and self-containment. In a lesser film he would have merely been a caricature of a crabby old man. Yet here he remains as someone who has suffered in life and is looking for the adventure he has always missed out on. In a script that is regularly funny, Up has a stronger sense of emotion and character development than most animated pictures, including Wall-E.
Though other animated films feel regularly derivative in their visual style and character design, Up benefits from a wonderful burst of colour. The balloons rising into the sky are particularly beautiful to behold on the big screen. This is a really splendid film to look at and it must be even more spectacular in 3D. Yet perhaps the most visually intriguing aspect of the film is also it's most subtle: the inside of Carl's ageing house is decorated with dusty old furniture and photographs on the wall. It is this very homely look that provides the film with a rather sweet metaphor of Carl's ongoing attachment to the memories of his wife. It is also reflective of Carl's conservatism, which in contrast to Russell's innocence and childish behaviour, provides the film with some very funny moments. Both Carl and Russell are voiced superbly and remain utterly believable. There are also some surprises from the characters that they meet along the way and thankfully, like Wall-E, the film refrains from using notable celebrity voices. Perhaps only the film's villain could be slightly too dark for much younger children though.
Up is a very sweet and fun adventure film for both adults and children. The attention to detail in the characterisation and the willingness for Pixar to explore much darker and more interesting elements of life deserves particular praise. Though much of the action of Up is fast, exciting and visually dynamic, it is the emotional core of the film that adults will relish most. This is an animated film that truly soars.