Both Great and Not So Good - And not great for the 5,6,7 year old

Rating: 6/10 (30 May 2009)

My family was very excited to see UP at a special pre-opening screening in San Francisco. My daughters, 5 1/2 and 7 had seen the TV ads with the talking dog and were really drawn to see this film.
By the time the credits were running, my 5 1/2 was just beginning to recover from her sadness, and my 7 year old was very ready to leave. My kids were not the only ones shocked by the more violent depictions. Do the trailers let on about violent pursuits, gun shots fired at the heroes, dangerous and scary predicaments, and the sense of dread that fills a good third of the movie? No, they don't. Do they show the scenes where there is senseless destruction of things old and valuable - No they don't. I'm tired of seeing both myself. My five year old actually asked me to write this letter to warn other little kids since "they might cry too." After the film, I did read the stamp on the ticket - Film may not be suitable for children under 13 - but the marketing of the film with balloons and the talking dog seemed to target viewers at this age group.
The movie is very much as the SF Chronicle's LaSalle stated it - party great animation and interesting story - then the adventure segment, as the lead character fulfills a life dream of seeing the "Lost Falls", lapses into very well trodden depictions, motivations, outcomes, etc.
And Disney - in keeping with Bambi, Nemo, etc - manages to KO the lead female.
A bright spot is the depiction of the boy scout in the film. Very enjoyable character. The short subject film that preceded UP titled Party Cloudy was great fun too.