Up (2009)

By Devon Gilbert

Up is one of those movies that makes me wonder how I was ever able to watch hand drawn cartoons.  I feel bad for saying that considering hand drawn animation is still very difficult to achieve and has made for many great films/TV shows, but CGI animation blows it out of the water.  It seems that every CGI animated film I see looks more gorgeous and detailed than the last.  Up is no exception.

Of course, by now, everyone knows to expect an above average film when there is a Pixar label involved.  It goes without saying the animation is top tier.  As for story, it was one of the best and most mature I have ever seen in an animated film.  It involves an old man, Carl Fredrickson (voiced by Ed Asner), who is struggling with life after the loss of his wife.  In an attempt to make his late wife’s dream come true, he attaches a bunch of helium balloons to his house and sets out for the “undiscovered” Lost Land.  Unbeknownst to him, Wilderness Explorer Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) was on his porch when he took off.

From there the plot takes off in more or less a typical Pixar adventure.  But the themes are more mature.  I think adults are going to be more touched by this film than kids.  On the flip side, I think kids will enjoy the humor more than the adults.  Though, I don’t know how anyone could not laugh at the “squirrel” running gag.  There is a montage that runs through Carl’s whole life with his wife and continues past her death.  It sums up the bright side of marriage in less than five minuets, a feat which I consider to be one of the best attempted in an animated film.  The movie is not perfect though.

I found Russell to be stupid annoying, not stupid funny.  The more Russell talked, the more I started to feel like I was watching a film about the mentally handicapped.  Also, I thought the villains (dogs with collars that allow them to speak) were weak and not very intimidating.  But maybe I’m judging a kids movie to seriously.  Leave it to Pixar to make you wonder.

Up:    A-