is it really a surprise that Pixar produced this gem of a movie?

Rating: Null/10 (30 May 2009)

An unusual but delightful and touching animated feature from the beloved Pixar Studios about a septuagenarian on the journey of a lifetime. As a child, cantankerous widower Carl Fredricksen had a dream to follow in the footsteps of his idol Charles Muntz and visit the wilds of South America with his loving wife/childhood sweetheart. Fate intervened however, and the only thing left in Carl's life is his house which he's in danger of losing after the legal system decides that he'd be better suited to living in a retirement home. He ties thousands of balloons to his home and sets off to fulfill his dream, but quickly learns that a child—who just happens to be a wilderness explorer—has inadvertently become a stowaway on his journey. The setup is a little odd, but as expected the film is rich with genuine laughs, great lines, clever gags, a perfect cast of voices, and an appealing, memorable, and heartwarming story. The three-dimensional effects are good, but there's so much pure entertainment value that the film is likely to work just as well without them! The latest in a long line of studio winners. ***½