I honestly didn’t know how Pixar could top their first 9 films (including Cars & Wall E) until seeing “Up.” As the first animated film to premier at Cannes, “Up” exceeded my expectations. Once again Pete Docter (Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.”) and co-director and writer Bob Peterson deliver characters with depth who inspire imagination, and take us on a journey which ultimately stresses the importance of friendship and values.
Carl Frederickson is a quiet, shy boy who hungers for adventure. His childhood role model, Charles Muntz (voiced by Christopher Plummer), is portrayed in newsreel footage in the opening of Up. His hero, however is shamed when the scientific community calls him a fraud for not supplying evidence of a rare bird Muntz claims to have discovered in South America.
Young Carl meets his wife, Ellie, a fellow Muntz fan and aspiring adventurer, in an abandoned shack she has turned into her own “clubhouse” and together they grow up to share the dream of traveling to Paradise Falls in South America for their own adventure. Their lives are shared in a poignant montage in just a few minutes with Michael Giacchino’s wistful score.
Now 78, Carl holds on to the home he and Ellie shared their lives in and becomes obsessed with keeping everything in tact. As time goes on, city developers have bought all of the land surrounding the house and want to eliminate Carl’s home from the scene. Facing eviction to a retirement community, Carl, a former balloon sales man, concocts a plan to escape.
Enter- Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai)- a tubby 8 year old Wilderness Explorer from Tribe 54, Sweat Lodge 12 who knocks on Carl’s door in hopes of earning an “Assisting the Elderly” badge to be promoted to Senior Wilderness Explorer. After the cantankerous Carl dismisses Russell with a phony project to “assist” him with, Carl gets to work on blowing up thousands of helium balloons and attaching them to his house to fly away to Paradise Falls. The next morning he puts his plan to action . . . except for one thing- he has an unexpected passenger, Russell.
An incredible adventure in South America unfolds as the two seek out the elusive bird, accompanied by Dug, a friendly talking dog (thanks to a high tech collar) who lives in the wilds of Paradise Falls. Surprises abound as the three travelers discover their common-bond, a love for adventure and a passion for the undiscovered.
The back bone of the film is the relationship between Carl and Russell and their journey provides ample heart, sorrow, and adventure. The non-traditional 78 year old hero is endearing and lovable, while the animated animals’ antics make it a hit for the kids. Expect “Up” to lift your spirits and cheer you UP.
