Pixar Scores Again With Up (No Spoilers)
Written: May 29 '09
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Beautiful animation. Strong story. Interesting characters.
Cons: Few moments may be too sad for some.
The Bottom Line: Up is another amazing animated masterpiece from Pixar that is available in 3D.
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| dragonfire88's Full Review: Up |
Pixar has been making wonderful animated movies for years and I have enjoyed every one of them. I have been looking forward to seeing their tenth animated movie, Up, for months.
I am only going to briefly discuss the plot of Up. I will not be sharing anything that would be a spoiler for the movie. Anyone that would prefer not to know about the plot ahead of time should skip the next paragraph.
**Minor Plot Discussion**
For all of their married life, Ellie and Carl Fredricksen planned to travel to Paradise Falls in South America like Charles Muntz, an explorer that they both had admired since childhood. Things keep happening and they don't make the trip. After Ellie's death, Carl is just trying to live in peace while high rises spring up around the house. After a particularly bad day, Carl gets an idea and uses thousands of balloons to make the house float away to South America. Carl discovers Russell, a young Wilderness Explorer, on the porch and he feels like he has to let him in. The two end up on an adventure trying to get the house to Paradise Falls while dealing with various obstacles and meeting Dug, a talking dog.
**End of Minor Plot Discussion**
There is an animated short, Partly Cloudy, that plays before Up. The short is cute and entertaining.
Up is the first Pixar movie to be available in 3D in select theaters. The theater here in town finally became able to show 3D movies in the last month and was showing both versions of Up. I did see it in 3D - the first 3D movie I have ever seen. Even the trailers were in 3D. It is a different viewing experience and I enjoyed it. I think the 3D effects worked well for the movie without taking over and distracting from the story. I have seen the normal versions of other movies that also had 3D versions, and there were things that were very obviously done just to dazzle the audience with the 3D. I think the 3D for this movie was done well, but I don't think things were done to take advantage of the 3D just because they could. The effects just enhanced certain scenes.
Up starts off a little slow while Carl and Ellie are introduced. The first several minutes is just focused on showing glimpses of their life together and was extremely touching. No dialogue is heard during most of that part, and the music fits perfectly and adds to what is being shown. Even with nothing being said, those moments express a multitude of feelings and clearly show the loving marriage that Carl and Ellie have. Time is also taken to show Carl's life after Ellie was gone. Russell is introduced during this time as well when he first shows up wanting to do something for Carl to get another badge. The movie is much stronger because of the time taken to set up Carl and his situation before he takes off in his house. There are one or two scenes later in the movie that are a bit slower as well, but they are necessary because they help to add the heart to the movie. Some younger children might be bored during the few slower moments.
I think the plot for Up is unique and it makes for a fun, entertaining movie. The idea of being able to have enough balloons attached to a house that it could float away is very original and I can see how that would appeal to children and adults. That adds most of the adventure to the movie with more adventure type of things happening later in the movie. Once Carl and Russell are in South America trying to reach their final destination, more things start happening. The different things that happen are very entertaining and keep things interesting. There is a decent amount of action as well as some mild violence. The mild violence is probably the main reason for the PG rating. There are a few things that might scare younger children, but I think the movie is very family friendly overall.
Up successfully blends humor with the more serious moments that turn up in a few scenes. The serious things were handled very well and those moments added emotion and heart to the movie, something that seems to be missing from most other animated movies. Pixar has always done a wonderful job with that and I was pleased that it continued with this movie, making it very sweet and touching at times. The movie doesn't directly mention Ellie dying, but it is clear what happens. Just as clear is Carl's sadness. Some scenes are sad and may be upsetting to some viewers. The sadder moments are very touching and add much emotion, making the movie much stronger overall. This movie has more heart and emotion than any other movie I've seen this year. The last movie I've seen that had this much heart was WALL-E.
Even though Up does have some more serious moments and even a few sad moments, the movie is fun overall. There is a good amount of humor throughout the movie that works really well. Things that Carl does as part of his daily life before the trip are funny. His reactions to Russell throughout the movie add more humor. Dug the talking dog is hilarious and adds many funny moments. A large, brilliantly colored bird that Russell names Kevin adds some of the funniest moments to the movie. Some of the things that happen are silly - just the idea of a house floating away because of balloons is a bit silly - but it works wonderfully for the movie. I don't think the humor is too silly. There isn't any of the gross humor that turns up in so many of the newer animated movies.
Pixar has a reputation for creating stunningly beautiful computer animation. I have always thought that their animation was better than what the other studios were doing. Pixar has continued their excellence with the beautiful computer animation in Up. Vibrant colors make the settings come to life, especially once Carl and Russell are in South America. The colors on Kevin the bird are gorgeous. The people don't really have realistic looks, but that works for the movie. Small details are done very well, like how Carl's beard starts to grow in during the trip, first showing just a hint of whiskers, then showing more stubble as time passes. Leaves, grass, and hair are shown moving in the wind again, something that Pixar has done very well in previous movies.
Carl is a bit of a grump when the main part of the movie starts. He's older, uses a cane to walk and has a hearing aide. He isn't happy about several things. He does enjoy some aspects of the trip and he goes though some changes by the end of the movie. Even with his grumpiness, Carl is likable. Edward Asner's voice is perfect for the character. Ellie is only heard talking as a child when she and Carl first meet. Russell is a young boy in the Wilderness Explorers who is trying to get his last badge. Russell tends to talk a lot, which does annoy Carl at times. Russell has some family issues of his own. Jordan Nagai does fine with the voice for the character. John Ratzenberger returns to do a voice, though is character is only in one scene. It would have been nice if his character had a bigger part.
Charles Muntz had been a famous explorer when Carl and Ellie were children. Things had not gone well for Muntz, and he returned to South America, vowing not to return until he accomplished something. Carl and Russell indirectly get mixed up in what Muntz is searching for, making them his enemies. Muntz isn't in as much of the movie, so he isn't developed as much, but that works. Christopher Plummer does a good job with the voice. Dug is one of many dogs that Muntz has. All the dogs have special collars that allow them to talk. The dogs seem very intelligent, though they are easily distracted by squirrels and balls. Dug doesn't really fit in with the others. Bob Peterson does a wonderful voice for Dug. Peterson also does the voice for Alpha, one of the other dogs. Delroy Lindo does the voice for Beta, another dog.
Voice Cast
Edward Asner - Carl Fredricksen
Elie Doctor - Young Ellie
Jeremy Leary - Young Carl
Delroy Lindo - Beta
Jordan Nagai - Russell
Bob Peterson - Dug/Alpha
Christopher Plummer - Charles Muntz
John Ratzenberger - Tom
Pete Doctor - Director
Bob Peterson - Co-Director
Up is a wonderfully entertaining adventure movie with heart and emotion. Pixar has created another masterpiece and one of the best movies of the year. I'm glad that I had the chance to see it in 3D. Dreamworks has been improving the quality of their animated movies, but Pixar still blows them away.
I will be updating my Best Computer Animated Movies list to include Up.
Pixar Movie Reviews
A Bug's Life ~ Cars ~ Finding Nemo ~ The Incredibles ~ Monster's Inc ~ Ratatouille ~ Toy Story ~ Toy Story 2 ~ WALL-E ~
Recommended:
Yes
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