Beautiful, compelling, exuberant and brilliantly animated, Disney Pixar’s latest creation, Up, is a children’s film in appearance, but transcends with profound insight and plenty of heart.
The story opens with a whimsical flashback that recounts the childhood of 78-year-old protagonist and retired balloon salesman Carl Fredericksen (voiced by Ed Asner). In a brief but sweet sequence of the movie’s best-made scenes, Carl and his spunky friend Ellie share the most valuable of life’s moments, first as children acting out the adventures of their hero, the aviator Charles Muntz, and later as inseparable newlyweds who grow old together and dream of seeing the world.
In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, Ellie passes away with her dreams of raising a family and finding adventure unfulfilled, leaving Carl aged and friendless at the end of a beautiful love story. Devoted to the memory of his wife, Carl is a touching characterization of the frumpy senior citizen who struggles to keep hold of the past as urbanization takes its toll.
But when a construction company threatens to take his house and place him in a retirement home, Carl executes a daring plan: with hundreds of balloons protruding from the chimney, he and his house soar into the clouds, leaving the city far behind.
The quirky journey has only just begun, and though we’ve all encountered the predictable adventure storyline a thousand times, directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson make it irresistible. It’s an entirely new flavor of story that manages to be both unconventional and familiar while throwing in the typical Pixar hint of social commentary. However, unlike the obvious relevance of Wall-E, the message we get from Up is memorable for its subtlety.
Carl’s new-found freedom from humanity is interrupted when he discovers stowaway Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai), a stout and bumbling 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer hoping to earn his merit badge for “assistance to the elderly.” The two make an unlikely but appealing team, and as they set out through winds and thunderstorms for the legendary Paradise Falls of South America, Carl and Russell gradually learn to depend on one another. They land and explore the tropical terrain, befriending a mother bird whom Russell dubs “Kevin” and a hilarious talking dog, Dug (voiced by Bob Peterson).
Dialogue throughout these scenes is sparing but sincere, and when paired with simple visual humor, it is both innocent and deeply evocative of themes like loyalty, courage and the potential of unlikely heroes to make a difference. By relating to human relationships, Up captures expression and humor more skillfully than any other animated film.
The plot takes a sinister turn when Carl and Russell encounter Carl’s childhood idol Charles Muntz (voiced by Christopher Plummer), who has hunted birds for decades in the jungle and is now obsessed with capturing Kevin. There are several breathtaking action and chase scenes involving the deranged Muntz and his pack of talking dogs, and it is up to Carl, Russell and Dug to outwit the villain and return the bird safely to her nest.
With a conclusion even more satisfying than those of previous Pixar productions Wall-E and Finding Nemo, Up is not just vivid artistry with a thoroughly hand-drawn feel, but also an uplifting story that is masterfully told. From an old man learning to leave his regrets in the past to a boy in need of a father’s affection, the story reveals the truths of life with startlingly symbolic technique. The characters are lovable, comical and complex, but best of all human, and they prove that it is possible at any age to live life to its fullest.