Magical, topical and ultimately remarkable, the whimsical PG-rated picture from Pixar and Disney touches on issues of aging, family, love, marriage, friendship, parenthood, ecology, devotion and responsibility. As co-directed by Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”) and Bob Peterson (a story artist on “Toy Story 2”), “Up” sets new standards for computer-animated fare.
At some points, the facial image of the senior citizen character is so poignant and lifelike that viewers may feel they are actually looking at a real person, not a digital rendering generated in a computer-filled warehouse. Docter and Peterson raise the bar with “Up,” presenting an emotionally driven work likely to send chills up the spines of viewers and tears down their cheeks.
It’s that good. (Note: “Up” is being shown in 3D and traditional flat film. This review is based on watching the non-3D version.)
In the story, a 78-year-old balloon salesman, Carl Fredricksen (voice by Ed Asner of “Elf”), is looking back on his life after the death of his beloved wife, Ellie. Docter and Peterson use striking images to recap the life of the couple, following the two through many good times and some bad ones — including a moment when they discover that the wife cannot have children — in an inspired flashback sequence.
Since Carl and his late wife always dreamed of going to South America, the widower decides to strike out on his own by attaching thousands of helium-filled balloons to his house and then drifting through the sky to his faraway destination. Complications quickly arise due to the appearance of an energetic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer, Russell (voice by 8-year-old Jordan Nagai), a stowaway who hid in the house until the dwelling drifted high in the sky.
Russell, whose biological father ignores him, and Carl, who has forgotten the joy that can be derived from simple pleasures, form a decidedly odd couple. During this road picture, they encounter talking dogs, discover a prehistoric bird, and challenge a deadly adventurer (voice by Christopher Plummer of “The Sound of Music”).
Much of the joy in “Up” comes from small discoveries made along the journey, so no more plot points will be mentioned here.
Ultimately, the heartfelt “Up” says no matter what your age or how great your personal loss, life can still be a grand adventure. It’s a message worth applauding, embracing and adopting.
Postscript: Edgewater Park, N.J. native Michael Giacchino composed the enchanting score for “Up.”
In terms of the film’s overall sound, Giacchino, who also wrote the music for the TV shows “Alias” and “Lost” and films such as “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Mission: Impossible III” and “Star Trek,” wanted to pay homage to some of his favorite adventure films.
“Those great scores for the Disney-animated films taught me not to be afraid of being emotional with the music,” Giacchino says in the production notes for “Up.” “The legendary composers like Ollie Wallace (1953’s “Peter Pan”) and Frank Churchill (1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”) weren’t afraid to be emotional when the story was emotional.”
FILM REVIEW
“Up”
Grade: A
Starring: The voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer and Jordan Nagai; produced by Jonas Rivera; co-written and co-directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson.
Running Time: 95 minutes.
Parental Guide: PG rating (some peril and action)
Web Site: Disney.com/up.
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22 Ratings (Avg 2.77)
