Within the first 10 minutes, I was already tearing up at perhaps the best elapsed time sequence in a cartoon that I have ever seen. If you’re the type that still enjoys watching Pixar movies, then you will love the newly released film “Up.”
Within those first 10 minutes, you become involved in the life of Carl Fredricksen (voice by Edward Asner), as the sequence follows him from the love of aviation in his youth to the love of his life, Elle, in adulthood, and illustrates how the two are intertwined in the beginning when Carl and Elle form a type of aviation club together at a very young age. “You don’t talk very much,” Elle says. “I like you!”
Talking very much is one thing Carl doesn’t do, yet the audience quickly forms an attachment to him by his mild manner and kind nature.
By the end of this sequence, Carl has grown old and is left alone. He holds onto items of the past so tightly that he whacks a construction crew member on the head with his cane when the man damages a mailbox that he and Elle once painted together. He is summoned to court and sentenced to go to a retirement home.
Carl then does the sweetest thing any man could possibly do and decides to go to South America to fulfill a promise that he made to his wife many decades ago.
So with thousands and thousands of balloons tied to his house, Carl sets out for the wilds of South America. Being satisfied with accomplishing this great feat and flying above the city in his house, he hears an unexpected knock on the door to find Russell (voice by Jordan Nagai), a wilderness cadet who becomes a stowaway on the voyage while attempting a wild goose chase set forth by Carl a few days ago.
The many adventures that follow are both heart-warming and hilarious as Carl attempts to get to his destination with his newly added, youthful crew member.
The only problem with this movie is that you can’t think about the logic at all.
At one point in the movie Carl and Russell get out of the house and drag it along behind them in the air like a big giant balloon itself. I couldn’t help but think that this wouldn’t be possible since there is no way they could weigh down the house since they were once inside it.
Then I had to remind myself that a house could not be flown by balloons in the first place. After ignoring the physics of the whole thing, the rest of the movie continued to entertain me.
I found myself cracking up at the talking dog, Dug (voice by Bob Peterson), who is a seemingly accurate portrayal of a dog’s personality with his unfailing loyalty, love and hatred for squirrels. With his simple mind and quirky humor, the character reminded me of Dory from “Finding Nemo.”
Kevin, the new species of a bird that is found, is a nice addition to the group.
However, I can’t help but think that a bird so willing to follow people he just met by means of a little chocolate would be a little easier to catch by the villain of the movie, Charles Muntz (voice by Christopher Plummer), who has spent practically his entire life trying to capture the species to prove his good name.
And with Charles as the villain, the time line seems to be a bit off considering he was once Carl’s childhood hero, and now they appear to be almost the same age. I’m guessing we have to assume that Carl is around 70 and Charles is about 100. Either way, both of them are in considerable shape for their age.
Again, the logic must be ignored.
Even if you can’t completely ignore some of the logic, this does not affect the overall effect of the movie.
By the end of the film, I found myself tearing up again over the relationship formed between Carl and Russell.
This Pixar film is a well-done tear-jerker that brings back consistent references throughout the story for an emotional and sweet ending.
“Up” was released on DVD Tuesday, and is now available at your local Blockbuster or red box.
No Comment