Up (2009)

Carl Fredrickson, a little boy and a dreamer who idolizes the adventurer Charles Munts. When he meets Ellie, who also worships Munts, they become close friends. However Charles Munts falls into disgrace, accused of forging the skeleton of the monster of Paradise Falls. He travels in his blimp to South America to bring the monster back alive but is never seen again. Eventually he Carl grows up and marries Ellie. They promise each other that they would travel together to Paradise Falls and build a house there. Many years later, Ellie dies and Carl, who's lonely, refuses to move from their house despite the offers of the owner of a construction company. When Carl accidentally hits a worker that damaged his mailbox, he is sentenced to move to a retirement home. However, he uses many balloons to float his house in order to travel to Paradise Falls. Adventure ensues.

Believe all the hype! This movie is a step above other recent animated fare, and Pixar has once against set the standard for children's movies. To be fair, most people who recommended this movie to me don't even have children, so it's safe to say that this is one that can be enjoyed by all ages. The only requirement is that you're a child at heart. Meet Carl Frederickson, a self-proclaimed recluse, and 78 year-old curmudgeon who is just as stubborn as he is lonely. Then, there's Russell, a chubby chatterbox, and boyscout who is one step away from completing his merit badge requirements. The remaining badge: assisting the elderly. To reveal any more information would be to spoil the fun. Part of what I enjoyed about this movie was the original idea: a house lifted from its foundation by an enormous collections of balloons. If you can suspend your disbelief long enough to get past that concept, then you have a real treat on your hands: animation so detailed that Carl has liver spots and you can see the wrinkles in the character's clothing; a surprisingly tender love story about Carl and his beloved Ellie; a delightful & colorful cast of characters; and a childhood sense of wonder at the serendipity of life. Be sure to stick around for the beginning part of the credits for an extra treat.

*****/*****

5/5 Stars