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.jpg) I love Pixar.
My love for Disney’s favorite sister company is well documented on this site. I know I’m not putting myself out on a limb here; it’s not like I’m proclaiming my love for Uwe Boll films. Pixar is well recognized as the best in animation and I am among their many admirers. I try to go into every film with no expectations, but it’s hard to do this with so many instant classics in their canon. My expectations are always high for Pixar’s films and it’s up to them to disappoint, which they rarely have.
That brings us to “Up,” Pixar’s latest adventure. As we’ve seen before, Pixar’s films can entertain children as well as adults, but never before has a Pixar film aimed so straightly toward an adult’s emotional experience. Sure, kids will love the silliness that comes along with any Pixar film, but the film, on an emotional level, is aimed at adults. Children will not be able to identify with Carl Fredricksen, the grumpy old man at the center of the story. They won’t be able to place themselves into Carl’s shoes, because at the heart of Pixar’s story is the uniquely human fear of what it means when we decide our life is over and how we chose to “wait to die.”
Carl is a grumpy old man, but rightfully so as we learn in the first ten minutes of the film. These ten minutes would stand alone as a short film. Done entirely in pantomime, we learn about Carl’s young love with the spunky love-of-his-live Ellie. Ellie and Carl have everything in common. They both dream of becoming the next great explorer and finding uncharted islands with colorful and amazing animals. Ellie can put voice to what Carl cannot express out loud. Their relationship and how it leaves Carl is at the heart of “Up.” The sad and amazing first ten minutes could be the most impressive series of scenes that Pixar has ever produced and open Carl for the adventure ahead.
Edward Asner voices Carl just as you’d expect, as a grumpy old man, mean and gruff to the outside world, but always focused on what he sees as the reason for his life. Asner’s harsh voice has the exact opposite affect, becoming more humorous and endearing the longer Carl becomes annoyed and flustered.
In a “so crazy it might work” moment, Carl ties thousands of balloons to his house in an effort to escape the noisy city that has surrounded his country home. His plan works, setting Carl on a path to complete the adventure he promised Ellie at a young age. His plans are sidetracked, a bit, when he discovers the peppy young adventurer Russell is stuck on his now flying doorstep. Jordan Nagai plays Russell in a role that could have been easily annoying, but with the skillful direction of Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, Russell’s wide-eyed optimism and questioning nature becomes humorous and endearing. Reluctantly, Carl allows Russell to join his adventure which becomes more incredible by the minute.
“Up” is one of those films that knowing too much going into the film is a bad thing. Disney did a great job of keeping the plot vague, so I won’t ruin Carl’s adventure here. I’ll just say this. “Up” is Pixar’s best film; hands down.
Docter and Peterson create new worlds that are just as imaginative and incredible as you’d expect. Every turn in this film holds a surprise and something new for the senses. The amount of creativity and imagination on display within the hour and 36 minute running time is astounding. Docter and Peterson’s film has the perfect amount of tension, excitement and emotion to make the film fly by. The animation is stylized but Pixar’s attention to detail is all here. The look of each scene and the staging of each sequence is expertly done.
“Up” also has my favorite all-time Pixar character. Dug, voiced by director Peterson, instantly became my favorite. I don’t want to spoil Dug for anyone, but he’s the company’s most heartwarming and humorous character to date. Every time he’s on screen something special is sure to happen. He’s my instant favorite part of this film.
Every time Pixar makes a film, it’s guaranteed to impress, but with “Up” they’ve really outdone themselves. “Up” is a challenging movie, especially for adults, but it’s easily their best. “Up” may be the best film to come out this year.
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