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Disney Pixar does it again with the Oscar-winning Up, an imaginative, logic-defying, and emotionally manipulative 2009 fantasy that has all the accustomed Disney Pixar touches, including an intricate screenplay that reveals a rather sad backstory that seemingly provides too much information, but as the story progresses, all the information we have been provided falls into place.
Carl (voiced by Edward Asner) is a cantankerous old widower who has been sentenced to living in a nursing home after striking a construction worker. Just as the men in the white coats (or blue in this case) come take him away, his house magically takes off, powered by a huge pile of balloons. It is revealed that Carl had this escape planned and the destination is a South American location that he planned to visit with his late wife. Carl finds his plan complicated when a young boy named Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) stows away in the house. Carl and Russell then find themselves facing a childhood idol of Carl's and helping a female bird named Kevin.
Co-directors and screenwriters Peter Docter and Bob Peterson have mounted a lovely and heartwarming story that starts off with exposition that we don't really know is exposition as it's happening. We see Carl's entire relationship with his late wife, Ellie laid out so that we immediately understand why Carl's journey to Paradise is so important to him and the way Ellie is kept a viable character throughout the story as Carl's through line is amazingly effective. We even get a wonderful contemporary backstory for Russell when it is revealed he is neglected by his dad and dad's new wife. The film also features some wonderful non-human characters, especially Kevin, who is part Big Bird, part Chewbacca, and part Jar Jar Binks.
The animation is gorgeous and lush as is the music score and the voice work by Edward Asner and Christopher Plummer is outstanding. Like most Disney Pixar work, the somewhat complicated screenplay has a few too many endings but you will want to make sure you know how each one turns out. Another animated treat for the young at heart.
Disney Pixar does it again with the Oscar-winning Up, an imaginative, logic-defying, and emotionally manipulative 2009 fantasy that has all the accustomed Disney Pixar touches, including an intricate screenplay that reveals a rather sad backstory that seemingly provides too much information, but as the story progresses, all the information we have been provided falls into place.
Carl (voiced by Edward Asner) is a cantankerous old widower who has been sentenced to living in a nursing home after striking a construction worker. Just as the men in the white coats (or blue in this case) come take him away, his house magically takes off, powered by a huge pile of balloons. It is revealed that Carl had this escape planned and the destination is a South American location that he planned to visit with his late wife. Carl finds his plan complicated when a young boy named Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) stows away in the house. Carl and Russell then find themselves facing a childhood idol of Carl's and helping a female bird named Kevin.
Co-directors and screenwriters Peter Docter and Bob Peterson have mounted a lovely and heartwarming story that starts off with exposition that we don't really know is exposition as it's happening. We see Carl's entire relationship with his late wife, Ellie laid out so that we immediately understand why Carl's journey to Paradise is so important to him and the way Ellie is kept a viable character throughout the story as Carl's through line is amazingly effective. We even get a wonderful contemporary backstory for Russell when it is revealed he is neglected by his dad and dad's new wife. The film also features some wonderful non-human characters, especially Kevin, who is part Big Bird, part Chewbacca, and part Jar Jar Binks.
The animation is gorgeous and lush as is the music score and the voice work by Edward Asner and Christopher Plummer is outstanding. Like most Disney Pixar work, the somewhat complicated screenplay has a few too many endings but you will want to make sure you know how each one turns out. Another animated treat for the young at heart.