Up

Rating: 10/10 (1 June 2009)

Peter Docter's UP is an animated film only in the most basic sense, for it is like no other animated film ever made; it is equal parts action, adventure, drama and comedy. The film combines all these elements so successfully that you will put aside your preconceived notion that animation is for children's films. You know, silly films with uncomplicated plots and G- rated adventure. UP is about an old man, Carl Fredricksen, who dreamed of going to Paradise Falls like his hero, the famous adventurer, Charles Muntz. He promised his wife, who he met as a child and who shared the same dream of adventure, that together they would move to and live in Paradise Falls. But life, and all its problems got in the way, and Carl and his wife never take said adventure. After she dies and Carl accidentally injures a man working on the construction that is occurring next to his home, Carl is forced by a court to give up his house and move into a retirement center. Instead, he attached thousands of balloons to his house and flies away. The characters are hardly stereotypical heroes: an old man, a talking dog, and an overweight Asian boy scout who just want his last merit badge. These characters are believable and they make the film feel realistic. UP features great visuals and stunning color sequences. It is beautifully directed, with shots of great beauty and scope. Docter uses the visuals as his main tool of communication, for example, explaining Carl's life story without any dialogue, and it is obvious that he took great care in framing the characters within the shot. As a result, the film feels authentic and engrossing. The emotional elements of the story are heart-wrenching and make the audience feel a part of Carl's journey. This is also an adventure story where people and indeed their animal accomplices do perish, granted all of this is implied without any details. There are many suspenseful turns in this film and it keeps you on your seat and interested throughout. The mood is constantly being lightened by numerous comedic moments. The dog that follows them on their journey, Doug, whose collar allows him to talk, fills the film with much laughter, as well as being an involved character in the story. The film manages to strike the right note at every turn and is a joy to experience. UP is quite simply a lot of fun and is a comedic adventure that will appeal to all audiences. UP is the best film of the year so far, and is worth any ticket price.