Nowhere to go but Up

Over the years, I've come to really love the movies by Disney-Pixar. From Toy Story to A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, you name it. The animation has been cutting edge from the get go, but it's always the plot and the characters that carry these films. Of course they're created for kids, but there's always enough of a plot and something to pull at your heartstrings that will give adults enjoyment too.

With Up, the latest offering from Disney-Pixar, that certainly holds true. Carl Fredricksen is a shy boy who dreams of adventure and following his idol, the explorer Charles Muntz. He meets the outgoing Ellie who shares that dream, and even wants to move her clubhouse to Paradise Falls, somewhere in South America. The two eventually grow up, fall in love, and marry. Even though they can't have children, they have each other. Carl the balloon salesman wants to keep his promise to Ellie, but she gets sick and passes away. Old and irritable, Carl (now voiced by Ed Asner) still wants to keep his promise, even if it means outfitting his house with thousands of balloons and flying to Paradise Falls. Of course, he didn't count on young Wilderness Explorer Russell (Jordan Nagai) to complicate things.

As I mentioned earlier, Disney-Pixar films always feature amazing animation. The attention to detail is stunning, and seeing Up in 3-D just adds to the experience. Pixar big boss John Lasseter certainly doesn't skimp on that end. Director Pete Docter and his crew also manage to find ways to show old newsreel-like footage in modern animation when young Carl watches Charles Muntz's adventures in a moviehouse. Later in the film, as old Carl goes through Ellie's adventure book, the book also shows texture and age, just like old photos do. Needless to say, the sight of thousands of balloons rising up to lift a house and the massive Spirit of Adventure dirigible (and dog-piloted planes) were magnificent to behold as well.

Again though, the key to any good Disney-Pixar movie is the plot and the characters. Within the first five minutes of the film, you already start to feel a possible tear about to drop as you feel Carl's love for Ellie and the pain he can't hide when she dies. The later scene of going through Ellie's adventure book brings back those decidedly "adult" feelings, yet there is no shame in shedding a tear when watching a Disney-Pixar film.

The character of Russell is such a delight, especially in contrast to cantankerous Carl. Curious, talkative, and obviously intelligent, one can't help but laugh at how he bothers Carl so much. Yet there is also some sadness in Russell's life, as evidenced by his wish that his father would pin his final Wilderness Explorer badge on him someday. Other characters like Dug the talking dog (Bob Peterson), Kevin the rare bird, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma all provide nice comic relief without taking too much away from Carl and Russell. On a personal note, it was also hugely entertaining for me to hear the great Christopher Plummer's voice in Charles F. Muntz. After all, what fan of The Sound of Music wouldn't be thrilled to hear Captain Von Trapp as a bad guy?

Of all the films that I've seen so far in 2009, Up unquestionably stands out as the one with the most heart. It's pulling of your heartstrings isn't manipulative, it is genuine, it is pure, and it will make you wish that you too can find true love and that you can fulfill your dreams of flight.