UP (2009)

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"There‘s no where this film is going but UP… and so will its box-office numbers!"

Up is Pixar's 10th release following Toy Story, A Bugs Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles (my favorite), Cars, Ratatouille, and WALL-E. There was no doubt, Up had some big shoes to fill, but this wonderful film definitely can hang with the previously mentioned nine. Pixar Studios has become one of those movie icons that shouldn't even have to deliver a premise to get funded anymore. The moneymen should just shut up, hand over the money, and trust they'll get a product that will appeal to everyone. Which this film does.

Widower Carl Frederickson (Ed Asner) sets out to fulfill his (and his wife's) lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. When circumstances force him out of his home, he decides to tie 100,000 balloons (I'm guessing the number here) to his house and simply fly there. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn't alone on his journey. A young boy scout named Russell, who is 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip. Together, Carl and Russell, experience an amazing adventure and eventually find more than what they bargained for.

Most Pixar films usually have characters that stay embedded in ones mind for years to come such as Woody and Buzz from Toy Story and Toy Story 2; Mike, Sully and Boo from Monster's Inc; Marlin, Nemo, and Dory from Finding Nemo; Lightening McQueen from Cars; and of course, Wall-E himself. But just like a Bugs Life, this film will not have any characters whose names will stay with us forever. It does, however, have a great story that will.

It's the story that will linger in all of us for years to come. The first ten minutes of this film was such a delight... more so than the rest of the film, in my opinion. And that's saying a lot since the rest of the flick is amazing. Those first ten minutes will make our older generation couples in the audience look at each other with glistening eyes and realize how much they really love each other. It will make the entire audience (which will be a full house for the first three weeks guaranteed) laugh, smile, and cry. REMEMBER... I'm talking about the first ten minutes of the film here. The adventure hasn't even begun.

Once the adventure DOES begin, it becomes a "laugh a minute" riot. It's a very funny movie with soul. Though we meet some interesting characters, we never really leave the heart of the story (the relationship Carl had with his wife, Ellie). Though Carl and Russell are funny and a delight throughout the movie, my bet is that Dug the Talking Dog is the character that is going to appeal to the young viewers. I mean really, who wouldn't want a talking dog? And boy, this one can talk... and talk.... and talk.

There isn't much acting involved in Pixar films obviously, but the voicing of the characters is still very important. You need the right actors to voice the characters appropriately. Most animated films try to hire big time names, even Pixar. I mean, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Kevin Spacey, Owen Wilson, Samuel L. Jackson, and the list goes on and on. But Up doesn't have the star power... and it doesn't matter. Like I said, it's the story that drives it.

The biggest stars Up has are Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, and Delroy Lindo. If you've never heard of them, its ok. Most will recognize them on the screen, but won't be able to remember their names. Ed Asner. mostly famous for his stint as Mary Tyler Moore's boss back in the 70's, voices the 78 year old Carl. Christopher Plummer who has appeared in many dramatic roles throughout the decades voices Charles Muntz (a Charles Limburgh character that Carl idolizes). And Delroy Lindo (who you may remember as the cop who was after Nic Cage in Gone in Sixty Seconds or the cop who was after Jet Li in The One) voices Beta... one of Charles Muntz's attack dogs. Wow... Lindo can't get a break. He even VOICES supporting roles. Newcomer, Jordan Nagai voices Russell superbly. You simply can't wait for Russell to open his mouth. Just like any typical nine year old, Russell can say the darndest things.

Pete Docter and Bob Peterson are the directors of this film and they have done an amazing job. The pace is perfect and I can't even begin to talk about the amazing visuals... especially in 3D. Once again, we have a film that is better viewed in 3D. Although watching this film in 2D will be just as fun, the visuals are 100 times better with those quirky glasses. The house that Carl and Russell fly in literally seems to be floating out of the screen, the attack dogs seem to jump right at you, and South America has never looked so amazing... even in cartoon form.

There are so many funny lines in this film that I can't mention all of them. Of course, why would I? That would ruin the film. But small lines like... Ellie: "Wow! South America is like America. Only.... South" will have you rolling around the floor. The most famous quote from this film, as you have seen from the trailers, will most likely be "SQUIRREL". Every time you hear that, you will laugh till you fart.

The film is excellent and I would recommend it to all ages. I even saw a two year old totally mesmerized by the film. He didn't cry or become obnoxiously loud, but boy did he laugh when Dug the Talking Dog appeared. I also saw an elderly couple holding hands at the beginning of the film, which like I said before will hit our older generation quite hard. I predict this film will be a top five grosser for 2009, just like WALL-E did last year for Pixar. There's no where this film is going but UP... and so will its box-office numbers.



MOVIE RATING SCALE:

*** 5.0 stars = A MUST SEE ***

4.5 stars = Excellent

4.0 stars = Outstanding

3.5 stars = Good

3.0 stars = Above Average

2.5 stars = Average

2.0 stars = Disappointing

1.5 stars = Bad

1.0 stars = Terrible

0.5 stars = Horrible

0.0 stars = UNWATCHABLE