There can be some spoilers; read at your own risk
Up is a 2009 animated adventure comedy-drama from Pixar, directed by Pete Docter and co-directed by Bob Peterson. The movie follows Carl Fredricksen, an old man who decides to take his house on a huge adventure using thousands of balloons, only to discover that a young boy named Russell has accidentally become part of the journey.
My Take
I watched Up long ago, but now that I remember it while writing the review, I have already planned to watch it again, together with my wife. Every couple should watch this movie together. I initially gave this movie a 90 rating, but I just added 5 more for life message the story has.
It looked like a simple animated adventure on the surface, but there was a lot more emotion behind it. Pixar did a really good job of making the characters feel real, even though everything around them was animated.
The beginning was probably the part that affected me the most. Without needing too much dialogue, the movie managed to show Carl's life, his relationship with Ellie, and the dreams they shared. It was simple, but it said a lot about love, growing old, and the things people sometimes have to leave behind.
Once the adventure really started, the movie became much more fun. Russell was such a funny character, especially because he was so different from Carl. Carl wanted peace, while Russell kept talking and getting involved in everything. Their conversations gave the movie a lot of its comedy.
I also really liked the way the movie balanced its emotional moments with humor. Dug the dog was another great addition. His ability to get distracted so easily made many scenes funny, and the way he talked through his special collar gave him even more personality.
The adventure itself was also enjoyable. The colorful locations, strange animals, airships, and other characters made the movie feel like a proper adventure story. But underneath all of that, the movie was really about people, memories, and learning that life can still have something new to offer.
Outstanding Performance
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Edward Asner was excellent as Carl Fredricksen. His voice fit the character perfectly. Carl did not need to say much for us to understand what he was thinking, and Asner gave him that grumpy but caring personality that made the character so enjoyable.
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Jordan Nagai was also great as Russell. Russell was energetic, talkative and sometimes unintentionally annoying, but that was exactly what made him funny. His excitement about earning his badges created a nice contrast with Carl's much quieter personality.
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Bob Peterson gave Dug a lot of charm through his voice. Dug was one of those characters who could make a scene funny without needing much to happen. His innocent personality made him very easy to like.
The relationship between Carl and Russell was another strong part of the movie. They started with very different personalities, but their interactions slowly became more meaningful. I liked how their relationship developed naturally instead of changing suddenly.
The animation was another major highlight. The environments looked beautiful, and the movie managed to make the huge adventure feel colorful and exciting while still keeping the characters at the center of everything.
Conclusion
Up was a beautiful mix of comedy, adventure, and emotion. What I liked most was that it did not depend only on jokes or action to keep things interesting.
The characters, their relationships, and the simple ideas about love, memories, and moving forward were what made the movie special.
Even after all these years, the movie still seems fresh to me, and I think that is one of the biggest strengths of a good animated movie. It was fun for the adventure, but there was also enough emotion and heart to make it memorable. Time to give it another watch and I hope my wife will love it.
Photos of this post are collected from IMDb
"Be Good, Think Good and Do Good"
Rating: 95/100
