UP (2009)

This Pixar film starring Ed Asner and Jordan Nagai follows a retired gentleman who keep his promise to his deceased wife to travel to South America. Carl Frederickson met the love of his life in Ellie and they got married. However  pretty soon they were in their later years and Ellie died. Carl wants to keep his promise and so he heads to South American in his balloon-propelled house. Along the way he has an energetic boy named Russell thrust upon him. Over time they become friends as Russell tries to help Carl so he can earn a Wilderness explorer badge. Along the way they befriend a talking dog named Dug and a giant bird called Kevin. But they do run into trouble and so they have to rally in order to save Kevin from his captors. Although this story seems sad at first it quickly becomes heartwarming with the addition of Russell. He helps breath new life into Mr. Frederickson and more importantly they form a bond. This is probably the best Pixar film since Finding Nemo.

It always strikes me how wonderfully unassuming this film is. If you told me that a film about an old man traveling to South America in a balloon-propelled house would be this gripping, funny, and heartwarming, I certainly would not believe you. But time after time UP is a joy to watch.

 It has one of the moving opening sequences in recent memory and it does it with few words. This is the first sign that this is something special. Each and every time I always find the score so whimsical and it seems to fit so perfectly with the concept. Another marvel of this film is Russell, the spunky Asian-American in pursuit of his assisting the elderly badge. He is a hilarious little boy with a lot to say and he says it with such expression and energy which really shows through the Pixar animation. A shout out must also be given to Kevin and Dug because Russell is the standout, but the film would not be the same without this pair of quirky creatures.

Most importantly, over the course of the film, Russell forms a bond with the elderly Mr. Frederickson.  The younger generation learns from the older generation, and in turn I think Carl learns valuable lessons from his young companion. It is very important to never forget our past, but perhaps more important is making something of our future and living in the present. It is a new type of buddy film that reminds us that friendship as well as adventure are out there, we just need to go and find it.

5/5 Stars