'Up' up and away, Pixar flies high with newest production

Rating: 8/10 (25 May 2009)

The one thing that has made Pixar Studios so successful in making high quality CGI films is not just the brilliant animation and the love and craftsmanship that go into each effort, it's those wonderful stories.
While the kiddies can wallow in the vivid color spectrum, high energy action and such lovable characters as Sully, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Nemo, Lightning McQueen and Wall-E, among others, their parents can relish the thoughtful and interesting plot lines.
And, with the newest Pixar animated film coming out this weekend, both youngsters and elders can re-live the whole process all over again. "Up" is a multi-layered action/adventure/comedy/drama that goes for the laughs but slides just as easily into the other genres.
And while the studio has grabbed the lion's share of animated movie Oscar awards, many these movies far outshine much of the live action garbage we're given year after year. In fact, in 2008, "Wall*E" was my second favorite film of the year, just behind "The Dark Knight." In "Up," Carl Fredrikson (voiced by Ed Asner) is a bitter 78-year-old retired balloon salesman who has just lost his adventure loving wife. He lives alone in a small house no one in the neighborhood ever visits.
But Carl does have one dream left – to visit Paradise Falls in South America. Of course, he does not have enough cash to accomplish the trip, so he sets about tying thousands of helium balloons to his domicile.
On the very day he decides to embark, however, a fatherless Wilderness Explorer, Russell (John Nagai) just happens to be on his front porch. The story then arcs into pure fun and fantasy, but the growing relationship between the lonely senior and the young boy in need of a role model is not ignored.
There is a lot of action in this film, but there is an equal amount of heart – and that's what sets it apart and makes it one of the best the studio has produced (and that is saying a whole lot).
Especially wonderful is the short opening segment(mostly without audio, just like many parts of "Wall*E") which introduces us to Carl and his wife. If this is not a lump-in-your-throat moment, you're probably a heartless android.
Now, I haven't even written about Pixar's crystal clear animation and seamless technology. There seems to be a different look and vibe with each film and "Up" is no exception. The characters are rather boxy and goofy, but that's fine and fits in well with this story.
The scenes beyond the clouds are vivid, amazingly artistic and wondrous. The emotions run from frivolity to fright and back again. it is truly a roller coaster ride of emotion that leaves you tearful one moment and exultant the next.
I almost did not want to leave the theater.
And, of course, no Pixar picture would be complete without the opening short. In the past, we were introduced to rabbits and magicians, space aliens and gauntly but cute birds. This latest effort is entitled "Partly Cloudy" and is one of the best and funniest, so far.