I'm a regular theater-goer. While plenty of people whine about paying for a ticket, I don't mind shelling out the necessary cash. That having been said, the fact that I didn't see this particular one in theaters still infuriates me, as I almost always see this company's features at the theater. What other company could I be speaking of besides Pixar? And what movie is the finest animated feature of all time? None other than the motion picture, "Up."
Cast: Edward Asner as Carl Fredricksen
Christopher Plummer as Charles F. Muntz
Jordan Nagai as Russell
Bob Peterson as Dug
Plot: Carl Fredricksen has had little to be happy about since the loss of his wife. He has no family to speak of, his house is surrounded by construction, and a company is scheming to take his property. When an accident will force him into a nursing home, he hatches a desperate scheme to fulfill a promise to his wife and heads to Paradise Falls, a land lost in time. During the flight, he picks up an unexpected passenger in Russell, a young boy who is a little overeager in his desire to help Carl. In their adventure, they come on a lost world and embark on a spectacular journey that will change their lives...
The Review: Usually, it is prudent to start at the beginning. And the beginning of this film is usually the most discussed portion of the film, simply because it's wonderful. It masterfully captures the feel and style of the 1930's era.
And with that over with, I proceed to the actual meat of the opening twelve minutes, which are the best in all of animated cinema. I've never seen such a brilliant display of joy, love, sadness, commitment and grief in my life. Remember, this whole thing takes less than twelve minutes.
Since all of Carl's niceness was lost after he lost his wife, we viewers are now left to deal with a grumpy jerk who, against all logic, actually appeals to you and is enjoyable to watch. Who knew we liked watching crochety old dudes?
Up's animation is a little different from other Pixar films, or other animated films of the modern era. While most films concern themselves with detail (Such as Kung Fu Panda 2), Up tends to focus more on vibrant colors to create a welcoming and friendly environment. It has some good details at times, but that wasn't the goal with the film.
Something else this film did that made it somewhat of a departure from standard animated fare is the film's use of serious issues. Though the movie may be unrealistic, the problems and the characters are not. It's kinda serious for kid's fare, but it brings a welcome depth to the film.
Russell. This kid is the funniest animated kid I've ever come across, bar none. I promise you, kids really do act like this.
And now that we've talked about Russell, we've gotta give a shout-out for Dug, the greatest dog ever, and world's worst guard dog. Hilariously funny and so lovable.
Though Up doesn't have a HUGE amount of laughs, the film still manages to pack more than a few good ones into its running time. As usual, Pixar is clever and inventive.
"Squirrel!" "I have just met you and I love you." "It is funny because the squirrel gets dead." Lines that are destined to become classics.
Russell is given a lot of depth for being a kid, and he is a tragic character in a way. You see his family life is kind of a wreck, and it makes him seem very real, and very lonely.
Michael Giacchino's score for the film is a solid piece of musical work. Ranging from bright and cheerful to quiet and reflective in just a few scenes, this composer shows his prowess.
Muntz proves to be a pretty good villain in the Pixar lineup, and a pretty believable one at that. His actions are despicable, and we can easily believe a man would be driven to such a state.
As Carl looks over Ellie's photo album, the film rises from thoughtful to touching, as we see the joy of a long and blessed marriage brought to life in just a few pictures.
And since we started this film speaking of its opening, what better way than to finish with its end? The last, final glimpse we see of Paradise Falls is the perfect way to end, and perhaps the only way for this film to end.
The Bottom Line: I saw a tweet on my Twitter feed a couple days ago, and though it's a common sentiment, I was rather angered by what it had said: "Getting married at 22 is like leaving a party at 9:10 pm."
It's laughable how our world views marriage, especially how my generation views it. Marriage, once a desired and protected instituion, is now considered nothing more than enslavement and a buzzkill. My generations is getting married at a much later age, simply because we don't want to give up our nights out and our good times or our "friends with benefits." We're getting married later because once we're hitched, all the fun goes out of life. We lose our good looks, our flirtatious meetings at the bars, etc. The list goes on.
I really don't get what people see in this lifestyle. I guess it stems from the fact so many of the previous generation is prone to divorce, but I don't see why marriage is awful. Apparently, neither does Pixar.
The opening scenes show the marriage's very beginnings, from a childhood friendship growing into a lifelong devotion that lasts for years. Their love for each other is evident from the start, and it brings them through the inevitable struggles marriage can bring. As Ellie is forced to deal with her infertility, only the love of her husband is able to wake her from her reverie and remind her to start living. A marriage is not just words or a commitment; marriage is a powerful entertwinement of love between a man and woman, both of whom desire to take on the struggles of this world with each other. Up celebrates the joys of marriage, from beginning to its very end.
But even though Ellie dies, she never really leaves. We see the powerful love Carl has for her throughout the movie, as the very plot moves on a childhood promise he once made, and his love and loyalty push him to fulfill it. As the film goes we see Carl sort of lose his way, and the love he has for his deceased wife becomes selfish and spiteful.
No marriage is perfect, and neither are we. Though it may not be an easily evident theme in the movie, I do see how marriage can work, even with the imperfect people we spend our lives with. It may not always be easy, but it is always worth it in the end.
And then, we have something so tender and gentle that Pixar will never, ever be able to eclipse it again. As Carl looks through the section of Ellie's album marked, "Stuff I'm going to do," he is shocked to find pictures...of he and Ellie. A smile and a wave. A birthday cake for him and a birthday cupcake for Ellie. A gentle drive out. A friendly picnic. All of the pictures out of the way, scribbled on the very corner of a page, is Ellie's thanks to her husband, for the wonderful adventure she had with him.
We humans so many times have plans for our lives, we try to position events to happen just the way we want them. We think we know how our lives are going to go, and if they end up someway else...we've failed.
Don't think you've failed. Your adventure in this life was precious, no matter how long or how short it was. God gave us so many memories and people to cherish and hold that even if we tried to write them all down there would not be enough room in the world to store them. Instead of wishing for better things, be thankful for the time we've been given, and thankful for those you spent it with.
Well my friends, that's it for this week. I will not be in town next week, so the next set of reviews will start up again on July 1st, the first Monday I'm back in town. Until then, thank you for reading.
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