UP
Reviewed by Johnny & Rihga
Company: Pixar
Runtime: 96 minutes
Release Date: May 29, 2009
Like with all Pixar movies, I made
sure to show up early. I wedged myself into my very uncomfortable chair,
popped open a smuggled Mountain Lightning and a package of Gummi Bears
I had found on the floor. With drink and Gummi Bears in hand I enjoyed
one of Pixars famous shorts (this one explaining that an abusive relationship
is only okay if it involves babies) and then my tenth Pixar movie began.
We start with a Chaplinesque montage summarizing the life of our 78-year-old hero, Carl. Needless to say the montage leaves you with a sour
taste of disappointment, loneliness, and, oddly enough, floor Gummi
Bears swirling in your mouth. It seems that the entire purpose of it
was to show to its young target audience that all their grandpas have
left to face is crippling depression, delirium, and the dreaded "retirement
home." That is unless of course your grandpa used to be a hardcore
balloon salesmen with a lust for adventure. In order to escape
the encroachment of the "big city developers," Carl decides to
tie a metric fuck ton of balloons to his house and fly away from all
his troubles.
Above: A metric fuck-ton of balloons
It was at this point in the
movie that the Pixar developers must have become vividly aware of the
fact that a 78-year-old man isn't much of a main character
for their supposed fan base. So, we meet the eight-year-old Wilderness
Scout, Russel, who has stowed away in Carl's flying house. Russel is
almost as depressing as Carl. He has an absentee father, a mother who
apparently doesn't care if he flies off to South America with a strange
man, and given the fact he looks like this:
I doubt that he is the most
popular boy in school. Needless to say the mutual depression of our
two heroes serves as a catalyst for some serious bonding once they land
in South America.
Upon arrival in South America
everything gets all topsy-turvy and the brutal realities of retirement
homes and abusive families seem long gone. South America, the continent
that brought you cocaine and that hot cleaning lady who keeps ignoring
my advances, seems stocked full of endangered birds, talking dogs, and
a deadly pit bull air force. It is as if the screenplay was written
by a bitter old man who died halfway through, leaving it in the very
capable hands of Carrot Top. Things get crazy, slapstick ensues, and
the humor slowly devolves to become more and more childish. Towards
the end of the movie I felt like I was six years old and had even begun
to forget about the fact that my floor Gummis were covered in a very
suspicious white goo. The conclusion of the film was obvious but also
fitting and left me with a warm feeling in my stomach... well, in my heart.
I'm pretty sure what I felt in my stomach was herpes.
All joking aside, Up is a
very well-made movie and one that the whole family, including your decrepit
grandparents, will enjoy. Ed Asner's voice brings the character of Carl
to life in a wondrous way. The banter between him and everything (pretty
sure at one point he argued with a rock) is always enjoyable. The scope
of the animation is astounding, and despite the fact that dogs piloting bi-planes is almost as unrealistic as the plot of Con Air, the scope it gives
to the film is worth it. In conclusion this film taught me two important
lessons: Talking dogs kick ass and the only way to beat crippling depression
is to kidnap an eight-year-old boy scout.
Final Rating: If you only see
one animated film that has Ed Asner fighting dogs in airplanes make
it Up -- A.
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Rihga's Take
I keep
trying to find the right words to describe my feelings towards Up.
In the end, though, a wide emoticon smiley-face and a childlike
squeal is really the best I can do.
^_________^
(Eeee!)
Pixar
movies do to my professional, objective opinion what kittens do to my
ability to speak English. So to hell with my professional, objective opinion. Up
is a delight, a treat, a rollicking blend of high adventure and
unflinching, tragic, and ultimately hopeful reality. It's one of
Pixar's most thoughtful movies, with a theme so smoothly blended into
the film that the kiddies probably won't even realize what Up
is really about. The adults will, though, and even as they're getting
in touch with their inner eight-year-old (flying houses! talking dogs!
mythical birds! Honey, can we teach our bulldog
to pilot an airplane?), they'll also be genuinely sympathizing with
the two main characters, particularly Carl (played with cantankerous
glee by Ed Asner), the 70-something widower trying to fulfill his
late wife's childhood dreams.
I left Up feeling both
delighted and fulfilled, as if I'd actually taken something from the
movie. During a summer of popcorn flicks featuring giant robots,
fiery explosions, and naked Hugh Jackmans, Up –
an animated feature where dogs cook, clean, and lead the air force –
just might be the most intelligent film you'll see this season, if
not this entire year.
(Not
that I'm, ah, complaining about the naked Hugh Jackmans, of course.)
Rihga's:
Favorite
“Pixar is Awesome” Moment: After
spending a day in the wilderness, Carl begins to develop a thin line
of stubble on his chin. Stick that in your CG pipe and smoke it, Dreamworks.
Favorite
Line: “I was hiding
under your porch because I love you!” ~Dug the dog
Final
Grade: An
A+ and a gold star sticker
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