Noticeably lacks the "spirit of adventure"

Rating: 6/10 (31 May 2009)

The blending of humor and drama did not mesh well. The story relies too heavily on serious undertones and moral values. Likewise, the comedic parts weren't that funny. The opening sequence was downright depressing, ending with the death of Carl's wife. Animated films should be epic (The Incredibles; Kung Fu Panda) or sidesplittingly comical (Finding Nemo). Up played like melodrama.
The sudden appearance of talking canines was unsettling, to say the least. Gamma, the pudgy bulldog, was the most amusing character of them all.
The house should have been made a floating fortress, with machine gun turrets, metal shielding, and the like. Perhaps a lightning rod would have been useful during the thunderstorm (best sequence of the entire film).
Charles Muntz is in pretty good shape for a centenarian (if Carl's 78, he's got to be close).