Prepare To Be Happily Up-lifted Away!

Rating: 10/10 (13 October 2009)

Pixar's tenth feature film so far in an astonishing career, is their most feel-good picture they have ever made. It is without doubt an instant classic, a rare film that will appeal to all-ages to go and see. 'Up' most definitely ranks alongside 'Toy Story', 'Finding Nemo', 'The Incredibles', and 'Spirited Away' as the best animated films of all time.
It is also the first film to have been made in 3D, which was a first for me to watch with those large glasses on. You could see the results, because the animation and story-telling throughout the film is utterly breathtaking. Pixar just don't seem to be creating poor films and at this rate they never will. 'UP' has so much depth and ground breaking visuals. I haven't felt like this since admiring Hayao Miyazaki's work ('Princess Mononoke', 'Spirited Away', 'Howl's Moving Castle'), which this takes slight inspiration from.
'UP' is about a retired, grumpy old man, named Carl Frederickson (brilliantly voiced by Ed Asner), who once aspired to become an explorer alongside his beloved wife Ellie. Together, they saved up to follow in the footsteps of Charles F. Muntz (Christopher Plummer) and visit Paradise Falls in South America, a beautiful rain-forest that is home to a lost world of curious creatures.
But both Carl & Ellie encounter road blocks through their lives, that they unfortunately never reach their dream. This was all portrayed through a wonderfully produced montage featuring some beautiful scored music by Michael Giacchino. After Ellie's death, Carl decides to full-fill his wife's dream, escaping the developers who are trying to build around his house by attaching helium balloons to it. As Carl embarks on his journey, he is not alone, as an eight year-old Asian-American called Russell (Jordan Nagal) becomes his unfortunate accomplice.
The film itself has some of the best action animation sequences you will ever see (not that I am going to spoil it for you), from meeting translating collar's attached to talking dogs (Dug, that steals the film in my eyes, which is joyfully voiced by co-director Bob Peterson) to a large multi-coloured bird named Kevin. The story becomes extraordinarily bizarre and hard to comprehend, but writer-directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson somehow keep us amused, excited and aware that there is an underlying point.
For Russell, who needs a father-like figure in his life and Carl learning adoptive grand-parenthood. The film is showing that if you have a dream, you should chase it and that meeting your life long heroes may end up disappointing you.
The film is predictably very funny in many parts. From creaking elderly bones, characters getting out of dangerous situations by using their knowledge that dogs like chasing balls whilst easily distracted by squirrels and young Russell trying to climb above Carl's head with hilarious results.
The only slight negative about the film is the it doesn't obey the law of physics, and Carl somehow running without his tennis-ball attached cane. But to be quite honest I didn't care, and I doubt that you will to, because the film is there to make you laugh, smile, and enjoy at the same time, which Pete Docter & Bob Peterson succeed. This film will deservedly make bucket loads of money into an already multi-billion dollar film industry in Pixar.
A classic family adventure film, that will appeal to everyone, and that you should watch. Very heart-warming, and very up-lifting.
Bravo again Pixar.