20/20 Movie Review: Disney/Pixar’s Up – 2009
Looking back at the history of Disney animation there has not been much of a place for characters above the age of 40. Most of the lead characters generally range from children to young adults to parents. The only example that I can come up that had an important older character was in “The Sword In the Stone” where Merlin the wizard provides protection and guidance to the young King Arthur. So what does Pixar do to respond to this oversight? Make the star of “Up” an old curmudgeon who uses a walker and is living alone in an old worn down house. If that doesn’t sound too exciting than you’ll understand how I felt seeing the trailer for the first time. However, Pixar had a few tricks up their sleeves and would ultimately surprise everyone, including this reviewer in making a classic.
We are introduced to a young boy named Carl Frederickson who yearns to be a world famous explorer. He meets a fellow young adventurer Ellie, and they eventually fall in love. They two get married and are very happy living through the ups and downs of every day life into old age. Their ultimate goal is to travel to a tropical waterfall in South America called Paradise Falls. However, Ellie dies and the trip is cancelled. Carl is devastated and becomes a loner and a recluse. Facing the prospect of eviction from his house, Carl decides to flee. He attaches thousands of balloons to his house and he and his home fly away towards Paradise Falls. His daring escape however has one flaw, a young boy is trapped with him. He is Russell, a wilderness explorer, who previously requested Frederickson’s help in earning a merit badge. The house lands miles away from the Falls, and the duo begins working their way towards their destination. The journey is interrupted by a large bird who befriends Russell, who names him Kevin.
Kevin himself is on the run after narrowly escaping from a pack of dogs. The group bumps into a dog named Doug whom to their amazement can speak and joins the explores. Carl while still focused on his quest to the falls, becomes a father figure to Russell and is concerned with his welfare. Doug while finally finding acceptance with his new friends, gives their location away to his fellow dogs. They are taken to their leader, Charles Muntz, a world famous explorer. Muntz was the inspiration to Frederickson as a child and for his quest to Paradise Falls. Carl is ecstatic meeting his idol and seemingly is a kindred spirit However as the visit continues, a dark side of Muntz is revealed. Carl finds out that Charles is obsessed with finding a rare bird and was responsible for the murder of every person he’s encountered on his mission. The bird is Kevin and she is soon captured. Muntz also ignites the house on fire and the home is nearly burned down. As Carl contemplates his next move, Russell leaves to rescue his friend. Frederickson must now face a decision whether to go with Russell and rescue Kevin or resume his quest to the falls before the last balloon pops.
The summary of the plot of this film doesn’t begin to describe how wonderful this film is. This film succeeds in creating a fictional plot with realistic emotions. A house flying in the air with countless balloons is absurd, but the motive and the reasons for the flight is what makes it work. We have a fully developed character in Carl that we are first introduced as an old hermit. However, it is revealed that as a young boy he loved adventure, exploration, and an obsession with Paradise Falls. He was also happily married to a woman for many years, tragically never having children and never having seen the falls. So when the house begins its accent to the sky, we fully embrace the journey and we can relate to him as he searches for meaning in his life after the passing of his love.
The other characters of the film also are on a journey as well. Russell seeks vindication in his scout troop, while at the same time looking for a father figure. Doug has been rejected his fellow dogs and is looking for a master who would protect him and love him. Muntz is seeking happiness by capturing Kevin and bringing him back in the states to restore his reputation as a great explorer. The only character that isn’t searching is Kevin, who has found her reason for life in nurturing and protecting her children. It’s fascinating how everyone responds in this film in their searches. Muntz becomes obsessed with his quest, stopping at nothing to tracking down his prize, while Carl, Russell, and Doug discover meaning and fulfillment with their friendships and loyalty with each other. Ultimately that’s what helps them to overcome their pain, while for Muntz it ultimately destroys him.
The best example of how this comes together is a flashback of the relationship between Carl and Ellie. From their first meeting to Ellie’s death we see their relationship flourish and blossom. This is accomplished in a montage with no vocals or sounds, relying only on animation and a musical score. This lovely music is composed by Michael Giacchino, who also was responsible for the score for the hit show “Lost’, which is one of the best compositions ever done in the 21st century. His portrayal of bliss and sadness are perfect and results in one of the most memorable moments in cinema history. If you don’t tear up at that montage, than you’re not human!
The creator of this film is Pete Docter who similar to his previous film “Monsters Inc” is successful in capturing human emotion in an animated film. How he used the usual the phenomenal Pixar animation and a great screenplay to create this film should not only be compared with the other Pixar films, but in the movie industry in general. His patience on relying on the story, characters, plot and not settling for juvenile action and hijinks gives the film it’s power and credibility. That’s not to say that this is solely a serious drama, there is also plenty of adventure, comedy, and heart mixed in. A good example is the character of Doug. While he is an outsider, constantly teased by his fellow dogs, he is also an optimist. He is also a very funny character. The decision having us hear his thoughts as if he was speaking was brilliant. From time to time, I still chuckle when I see a squirrel.
“Up” is a magnificent film that will make you feel emotionally refreshed by the end. It provides a new hope in humanity and its sympathetic portrayal of an older hermit in Carl Frederickson is a major accomplishment. The supporting cast, story, and music is done with a vibrant radiance that makes the journey of Mr. Frederickson fulfilling and rewarding . The majority of the lists done by film critics of the greatest Pixar film, have “Up” as the number one film. While I disagree slightly with this being the best Pixar film of all time, it’s still a great testament to the brilliance of the team at Pixar. Do yourself a favor, please see this film!
Brian Rating 10/10