Review of Up (2009) by Clint W — 12 Jun 2014

One of Pixar's most surprising movies. Pixar was always known for making movies that lured people into wanting to see it, but this was the first movie from them to make me question them. While Pixar did eventually release movies that weren't too popular, Up was definitely not one of them.

It was a big surprise from start to finish. This is one movie that cannot be judged by it's vague teaser trailer and commercials. It's a very emotional story of a lonely old man, whose life is being torn up by the demands of modern day business.

It makes it worse when we see how great his life used to be, we saw him from a child, to making his first friend, to even marrying that friend, and eventually losing her at an elderly age. If no one can get emotionally connected to that, then that's heartbreaking to hear.

The whole movie is about the man's escape from the pressures of life, to trying to literally move his home over to the wilderness of South America, where him and his wife Ellie originally planned moving to.

The movie is full of fun and humorous characters, like the accidental stow away Russel the Wilderness Explorer, who ended up getting stuck with Carl as he flies his house down to South America. The animal characters they find are very fun characters, including a giant endagered bird species Russel finds, and names Kevin.

Another fun animal is an adorable mutt named Dug, who happens to have a special collar that allows him to speak in English, and other languages. The movie's story, and emotional themes will likely entertain adults, while the fun and well animated characters will keep the kids busy, and even the adults may like the characters.