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Swank-mo-tron: And so, gentlerobots, we’re here to discuss Disney/Pixar’s film, Up. Up tells the story of the 78-year old Carl Fredrickson and the adventure he embarks upon after tying millions of helium balloons to his house and setting off for South America. It’s alternately heart-warming and hilarious, tear-jerking and suspenseful and I feel like it has earned its place among the very best of Pixar’s films. In fact, the economy of story and script in this film was nothing short of astounding. “Sure,” you’re thinking to yourself, “he can use a lot of buzz words when describing things about the movie,” but I’m in earnest. The opening of the film plays out in a montage that crams the entire life of Carl and his wife, Ellie, that gave me such a thorough and complete understanding of these characters in less than 10 minutes that I felt like I’d already watched an entire movies-worth of information told which a graceful economy of words and actions that most movies these days aren’t able to accomplish in the entirety of their running length.
There’s more I’d like to add, but I’d like to give the other robot’s a chance to speak:
Pencilbot: Yeah, in the first 10 minutes my eyes were already welling up with emotion, my heart instantly grew like the Grinch and I couldn’t feel a single cynical cell in my body. I look around at little kids who have yet to experience how rapidly time moves forward, yet they’re just as ensnared as I am at these two young people growing up together on screen. I knew what was going to happen to Ellie because of her void in the trailers but it didn’t matter, the process in which you get to know her in the 10 minutes left your heart as broken as Carls at the 11th when she isn’t there anymore. Every time I believe film, as an art-form is on it’s last breath, Pixar comes along and how much life and vitality is still within; which is echoed more so in the premise of this film particularly. In Up they tell a story that no matter how many tried, could never realize with such potency and honesty, a story of unrealized dreams and the pursuit.
It was great, if you weren’t crying from the emotional lows you were either tearing up from laughing so hard or had dries eyes from the lack of blinking during the incredible action scenes. We would be living in a modern-day utopia if all movies were as rich with life as Up is.
Clang! Boom! Steam!: As a father of two, I sometimes feel doomed to endure every kids movie that comes out, good or bad, but usually mediocre. But the light at the end of the tunnel, the consolation prize for film geek parent’s in my position is always Pixar. Whenever Pixar releases a movie, it is I, not my children, who drag the family to the theater over and over, and I plan on doing very much the same with Up.
As with all Pixar greats, the strength lies most firmly in story and character, the cornerstones of any great movie though they are to often overlooked – the flawless animation, stunning colors and set pieces and pitch perfect performances are simply icing on the cake.
To invoke a tired old adage, movies like Up, are why I go to the movies, and moreover, why I love film.
As opposed to pointing out the dozens of heart wrenching, hilarious or nail biting moments in Up, I’m simply going to submit a plea. Don’t let your age or social status or anything else keep you from seeing this movie. This is not simply a kids movie. There are kids movies, and there are Pixar movies. (see parents dragging kids) Though it is recommended to watch this movie with a
child, be it niece or nephew, neighbor kid, a child of your own or a ragamuffin off the street, don’t let the lack of a child keep you from one of the best movies you’ll see all year, perhaps the best.
Parents like myself will be back again and again, requiring precious little prodding from my kids who will be first in line on the last day of school.
This movie is for everyone, so go, GO, GO!
Thanks got for Pixar. Another slam dunk.
Pencilbot: Yeah, I could totally see you yanking your kids out of school to see this one Clank! I told friends of mine who own stores to close up shop with a sign reading “Yes! We’re closed! Out to see Pixar’s Up in a theatre near us, back in an hour and a half.”
Doctor Cyborg: I think all of us robots have arrived at a consensus that this film was excellent, for many a reason. The only thing I really have to add would be how reckless this movie was and how it still managed to be a five star film. The main character was a geriatric, who’s life work is apparently selling balloons to kids. Taking his house on an adventure to South America, where he partakes in a sword fight with his cane, and has to deal with jet flying talking dogs. This just doesn’t sound like something that works. But this film does work. Pixar has done it again.
Swank-mo-tron: It looks like they all said what I was thinking. I need to see this film again, in 3D, and soon.