Up-lifting!

Soaring alongside the Pixar greats

Once in a lifetime films comes along that are top notch, all ages, are worthy of multiple viewings. Pixar has released 10 films (including this one) and has, arguably Toy Story 1 and 2, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Wall-E and now Up, is fitting into that “once in a lifetime” movies. Incredibly every single film but one Pixar movie has a plus 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Cars is the only film that has a sub 90% rating with a respectable 75%. Up is directed by Pete Docter (Monster’s Inc), the film was also co-written with Bob Peterson (many voices in Pixar films) who received co-director credit and also voices one of the characters (Dug, the talking dog). Edward Asner (Elf) voices Carl Fredricksen, Jordan Nagai voices the young Wilderness Explorer Russell and Christopher Plummer (Captain Georg von Trapp in The Sound of Music!) as Charles F. Muntz.

As the city grows Carl is going to be forced from his house but decides to fulfill a promise to his deceased wife, Ellie, who imagined them moving their house on top of Paradise Falls. Carl uses thousands of helium filled balloons to make his house a makeshift aircraft. Unfortunately Russell was on the porch during take off and is now stuck helping Carl, much to Carl’s dismay.

A relatable character is one thing you can say Pixar films have lacked. Not to say toys, fish, monsters, superheroes and rats didn’t have some problems that we could all relate to but it just means so much more when it is an actual human. Be it that Carl or Russell reminds you of your grandfather, a friend or even yourself, the aspect that you could supplant yourself for one of them on this adventure has your attention more than an underwater fish adventure, monsters in the closet or a cooking rodent. The pure emotion that is given in the wordless opening summary of Carl and Ellie’s life is beautiful and sets the tone for the entire film.

Hilarity throughout the film is based off the banter (not laugh out loud funny but more subtle) between Carl and Russell but Dug and the rest of his talking canine companions really steal the show. Mainly a comedy, Up couldn’t decide if the sub plot should be drama (absent fathers) or an escapist fantasy, it alludes to both but doesn’t touch far enough to either to hurt the film.

Another thing most people don’t notice is the amazing sound effects that Pixar has used in all their films. The music used was one more great thing about the movie, I loved when they played the old-fashioned piano. The visual effects were fantastic like usual, the Disney Digital 3D experience was great and I can’t wait for more films to be released like this.

The film premiered by opening at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival (the first animated film to do so) where Dug, the talking dog, won the award Palm Dog, for best canine performance. Unlike most Pixar films the animals really can’t talk except for the canines that have a collar that enables them to talk which were created by the character Charles F. Muntz.

I really enjoyed this film, while not to the level that I enjoyed Wall-E, I think this may be Pixar’s second best film. Always tugging at your emotions, only to make you smile and laugh, and feel triumphant once the journey is complete.

4 out of 5
Colin Enquist