Up Blu-ray: Review By Dodd

*The following is a review of the DVD only. Yes, I am still behind on the times and I do not have a Blu-Ray player. Don't worry about it.

There are a lot of CGI films out there directed at children. The unfortunate thing is that they shouldn't be. I know the studios have caught onto the fact that kids love farting or obnoxious characters, and this is a quick money-maker. But what good do these films do for kids in the long run? They generally teach half-assed, meaningless lessons and give kids a cheap thrill. The fact of the matter is that the minds behind these movies don't care about kids, or what they will take away from films. That is unless they take away with them the drive to see more crap. To me the young entertainment landscape seems hopeless, but the pioneers that started it all still prevail. Pixar Studios unleashes a film upon the masses once a year and they have yet to release a feature that critics would describe as hitting below the belt (unless you want to count the ingenious mockery of fat Americans in Wall-E). Their latest endeavor is Up.

Once again Pixar introduces to characters that leave impressions on our minds. Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) is a lonely old codger with stories to tell. While he currently lives alone in an old house, his past is rich. He was once married to a rambunctious adventurer named Ellie. From their meeting at youth until Ellie's death, they had a fruitful companionship that is portrayed in a montage that clocks in at a few minutes. This montage at the beginning of the film should be nominated for an Oscar alone as it is some of the most heartfelt and realistic storytelling this year. After Ellie's death, Carl takes it upon himself to finish the adventure he and Ellie were never able to pursue. With thousands of helium-filled balloons, he launches his own house into the skies and heads for South America. What he does not count on are unexpected traveling companions. Pudgy cub scout Russell accidentally embarks on the journey just from standing on Carl's porch at the wrong time. When the two of them arrive in South America, their party expands with the addition of a squawking, multi-colored bird named Kevin, and an adorably precocious mutt named Dug that communicates with a talking dog collar.

As surly Carl finds out, all adventures come with obstacles. While he finds his companions to be obstacles in fulfilling his late wife's wishes, he finds an even more challenging nemesis in the form of Muntz (voiced by Christopher Plummer), a former adventurer who is tormented by his obsession in capturing the elusive Kevin simply so he can prove to the world that he is not insane. As expected with a Pixar film, profound, moralistic lessons are conveyed without the feeling of being force-fed.

If the day comes that Pixar actually releases a sub-par film, I will be severely heart-broken. I have now seen Up three times and I could watch it many times over. The brains behind this story, which includes director Pete Docter, never cheat the audience. Every character is fleshed out in appropriate doses. If Pixar did not release this film, then Carl would be a caricature of a grumpy old man. He would be a one-trick pony that spouts off jokes about constipation. He would probably even fart a couple of times. It is clear that Pixar will not finalize a project until their characters are truly understood. Carl is not dismissed as a stupid old man because the filmmakers to a flawless job of delving into his history. Therefore, we understand his anger. Even the supporting characters with less screen time are understood. Dug's back story is never told, but viewers can understand his entire life story just by looking at the happiness in his eyes when he greets Carl, or by hearing his canine whimpers of sadness whenever he interacts with his abusive master Muntz.

Up is a very-character-driven film, but it also is supported by its script. While I am excited for the release of Toy Story 3 next summer, there is still that tiny bit of disappointment that Pixar will not be unleashing an original creation in 2010. Yes, the threequel will deliver, but I really cannot wait until 2011 to see what non-serialized masterpiece they will think up. The concept of Carl flying a house to South America is very original and attests to the smart, yet childlike imaginations of the Pixar team.

The most prominant features on the DVD are the shorts. It includes the short film Partly Cloudy, a concept that cannot be explained, but can only be seen to be appreciated. Let's just say it is brilliant. It also includes an original short revolving around fan favorite Dug, and what happened in his life prior to meeting Carl. Once again, it should not be missed.

As far as behind the scenes features go, there is a 5-minute piece that discusses in detail the alternate methods of dealing with villain Muntz. What is so rare is that the rejected ideas are all actually very usable. It is clear that the writing team put a lot of thought into creating the perfect fate. Also included is the doc*mentary Adventure is Out There. This is a feature that takes location-scouting to a whole new level. Director Pete Docter and his animators could have just used photographs as inspiration for the worlds in Up. However, they instead went to these locations by plane and by foot to actually smell the details. The doc*mentary chronicles this journey.

Director Pete Docter and co-director Bob Peterson also provide a feature-length commentary track on the film.

The film could not look better. However, it could look worse if one chooses to see it in 3D. I don't care what the advertisers say. This movie's vivid details can only be enjoyed to the fullest extent without the dimness of 3D glasses. My initial viewing of the film in 3D was very unpleasant. Luckily my copy does not appear to include headache-inducing glasses.

The sound is also a very prominent aspect of the picture. Pixar has a knack for utilizing sweet, emotional scores. Try watching the Carl/Ellie montage accompanied by piano accompaniment without squeezing out a tear.

This DVD is a 4-disc set. It includes 2 Blu-Ray discs, one DVD, and a digital copy. The front cover displays the original poster art for the film.

I think my thoughts on the Up DVD are clear. Like every other film in the PIxar library, this film should just be purchased. Have reservations about making a blind buy? To this day, you really cannot go wrong with Pixar. This is a film that will move viewers both young and old. It tells a good story without being contrived, and teaches lessons without being preachy. With Disney beign so preoccupied with princess commercialization, it is nice that their subsidiary Pixar is still there as the voice of reason.

Dodd Alley

dodd@movieweb.com