Although the film is a Pixar-Disney collaboration, those who are versed in the Pixar lineup (“Wall-E,” “Monsters Inc,” “The Incredibles,” etc.) will immediately note that the film is pure Pixar through its not-so-light story line and color palette. In a way, it's interesting that Pixar has become the new Disney, and when I say Disney, I mean Disney from its real heyday (remember the time of “Bambi,” “Snow White” and “Cinderella”). “Up” will have such an effect on you that you will want to show it to your grandchildren and hope that their grandchildren will watch it, too.The film opens with one of the most touching, funny and heartbreaking sequences imaginable. In fact, it's so good that you'll be wondering whether there is a need for the rest of the movie (but worry not, the remaining 80 minutes are as exhilarating as it can get). We see little Carl, a kid who fervently watches news reels of the explorer Charles Muntz. Carl's big ambition is to become an explorer himself. One day Carl meets Ellie, a rambunctious little girl who also wants to become an explorer. They become friends, and then as the years pass we see their blossoming relationship in a montage -- they grow up, they fall in love, they get married, they allocate a glass jar to save up for their shared dream exploration travel of going to Paradise Falls in Venezuela, but life gets in the way: there are medical bills and unexpected expenses, the jar gets smashed intermittently throughout the years. When they find out they can't have children (which is shown in the most subtle and tender way), life gives them another blow, but their love for each other is real and as the years pass they turn their humble abode into a dream house and take care of each other. They grow old, and Ellie passes away, leaving Carl by himself, now a lonely and bitter old geezer. If ever real love between a couple could be so genuinely displayed, this sequence is the real thing -- you will want to watch it over and over again as you gradually get that gulp in your throat, and maybe think of your own grandparents.
And so the adventure begins: Carl has one last wish before he dies, and that is to travel to Venezuela's Paradise Falls in memory of his wife. By now his neighborhood is surrounded with skyscrapers and evil contractors are trying to coerce him into selling his house, but Carl is not a quitter, since he's got other plans. He ties millions of balloons to his house, and off he floats into the skies towards South America in his traveling air-ship home (those who own a Winnebago, don't get any ideas). He doesn't expect the Wilderness Explorer Russell to sneak into the house accidentally before take-off, but this unexpected travel partner will change the emotional trajectory of the whole journey as they finally reach Venezuela, bump into an almost extinct humongous bird, dogs who can speak through their collar and Charles Muntz himself, who has transformed into an obsessive and evil centenarian trying to capture the humongous bird. While Carl just wants peace, a brilliant cat-and-mouse chase begins between him, Russell and Muntz.
The film has a brilliant take on many issues that will contribute to the emotional growth of children and address the inner children of adults, without ever bordering on schmaltz. Carl becomes Russell's absent father, and Russell becomes the child that the obstinate Carl never had. A talking golden retriever as a sidekick lightens the day with his warm, fuzzy presence as he tries to overcome his self-esteem issues and become an alpha dog. The story is almost like a modern version of “The Wizard of Oz” with all its elements, including Charles Muntz as Oz, who is the mad scientist isolated in his palatial Hindenburg airship. The key here is amongst all the adventures of these characters (and don't be prejudiced because two of them are men of old age), that the film, like “Wall-E,” presents a subtle environmental message and at the same time tackles intricate human emotions and needs (don't underestimate the power of animation). As we watch Carl's square face -- and I don't know how the talented Pixarians managed to do it -- we can directly feel the anger, yearning, love and frustrations of a life through his eyes and wrinkles. It's impossible not to empathize with a face, which duly represents a range of sentiments that every human being has experienced at one point in their life.
“Up” is one of the most profound films to come out this year; it is a joy to absorb everything about it: its authentic characters, its story line, its amazing colors and frames. Sometimes the imagination of animation films can take us to a simpler place which is far better than reality but strongly rooted in it, as it suddenly grabs our attention and meticulously cajoles us into facing our own reality. Do not miss this film.
