Review: Up (2009) *** 1/2
For the last 15 years, Pixar has carved out a niche making old-fashioned entertainments that appeal to audiences of all ages without pandering to any one of them. More impressively, they’ve done it using the highest level of craft and without repeating an obvious formula. In nine films they’ve told nine different stories with eight different sets of characters including toys, bugs, monsters, fish, superheroes, cars, rats and robots. Their latest film, Up, is simply about two humans – an old man embarking on his last adventure and a little boy beginning his first. Though it doesn’t achieve the resonance of WALL-E with its poetry of longing or Ratatouille with its ode to creativity, Up nevertheless delivers a gut level poignancy unmatched since Finding Nemo and a sense of humor that sets it apart from its Pixar cousins.
The opening 10 or 15 minutes that trace the life of 78-year-old Carl Fredericksen up to the point where the story begins are sublime. The other 80 minutes are a little more hit and miss. Carl’s tagalong, the 8-year-old Wildnerness Scout Russell, is a less interesting character but he’s good for comic relief. The bird Kevin was more annoying than cute, but Dug and the other talking dogs were good for plenty of laughs. All in all, except for a draggy patch in the jungles of South America where the plot gets resolved as it must, the story moves along briskly and entertainingly with plenty of humor and heart tugging emotion. What more do you need from a general audience film?
As with the other Pixar films, Up is an essentially gentle film that is refreshingly free of fart jokes and knowing references to pop culture. The closest it comes is when Carl sternly warns Russell that there will be “no rap music or flash dancing” on this trip. It’s a funny anachronism…not unlike Pixar itself in a way.
Up also avoids padding its marquee with big name voice actors. Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer are the most famous in the credits and they’re probably even unknown to some of the younger parents in the audience. This works to the film’s advantage because it’s easier to accept the characters as they are instead of as winking celebrity extensions.
I was skeptical going in about the 3D technology that Pixar has embraced and I still think it’s mostly a gimmick, but I have to admit it was well done and much less distracting than I expected it to be. Except for a few of the action sequences, it doesn’t add much to the experience besides a bit of a “wow” factor that wears off long before the film is over. I’m still convinced it degrades the image a bit and it isn’t nearly as bright and colorful as it should be, but not enough to grumble about it.
It’s tempting to fit Up into the Pixar canon, but it turns out that everyone’s canon is a bit different so it’s probably irrelevant. I favor The Incredibles with Monsters Inc., Ratatouille and WALL-E jockeying for the second spot. Next comes A Bug’s Life (why do I feel like I’m the only one who likes A Bug’s Life so much?), Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story. Cars is unfit to be included on a list with the rest. Allowing for the fact that WALL-E grew on me with repeated viewings, for now I’d put Up between Bugs and Nemo. It doesn’t seem to have ambitions as lofty as some of Pixar’s more recent output, but it’s very well done and appealing in a more immediate, ground level way.
It might not be one for the record books, but Up is easily the most likeable mainstream release of the year so far, head and shoulders above what the first part of summer has had to offer and in another league from what passes for most American animation.
Up. USA 2009. Directed by Pete Docter. Screenplay by Bob Peterson from a screen story by Tom McCarthy and Bob Peterson. Cinematography by Patrick Lin. Music score by Michael Giacchino. Edited by Kevin Nolting. Featuring the voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Negai, Delroy Lindo and John Ratzenberger. MPAA rated PG for some peril and action. 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Filed under: Reviews
Tags: Bob Peterson, Christopher Plummer, Delroy Lindo, Ed Asner, John Ratzenberger, Jordan Negai, Keving Nolting, Michael Giacchino, Patrick Lin, Pete Docter, Tom McCarthy, Up
Up is actually PG not G.
I liked this film a lot, though The Incredibles and Wall*E still takes the top spots for me among Pixar’s films. The beginning is indeed sublime. The portrayal of the love story between Carl and Ellie is beautiful and this film is a genuine heartstring-tugger in so many ways. I cried a few times.
If I wanted to nitpick I could make an issue about the fact that one has to suspend all belief in reality, as many impossible things occur. But suspending disbelief doesn’t bother me. That’s why I play so well with my 3-year-old niece.
I concur with Alison’s assessment, here, and consider this as one of the very best Pixars. I agree with Craig that the 3 D does virtually nothing (it was another decision based on money as usual) but there is so much that works here on so many levels and it’s a wrenchingly beautiful film that warrants at least an extra star in the rating. (**** 1/2)
WALL-E
Ratatouille
Up
A Bug’s Life
The Incredibles
Toy Story
That’s my top half dozen in order.
Yeah, I’d have to agree with the review and Alison’s comments. Two thumbs up.
Up *is* a very convoluted fantasy, but being a fantasy it was pretty darn entertaining and I found myself enjoying the movie quite a bit even though most of the characters didn’t resonate much with me. On first viewing, this one feels like an overall weaker Pixar movie but still one of the better movies this year, which is a testament to Pixar more than anything else. But since virtually every Pixar movie has grown on me (a lot) with subsequent viewings I hesitate to make any assumptions about how it fits in my Pixar Best Of.
Still, a heartwarming romp that was emotionally satisfying and funny. What more do you want?
This review was written a couple of days after I saw the movie and after struggling with it all day I simply had to admit the movie didn’t stick with me. In the moment I enjoyed it a lot…nearly cried a couple of times and laughed quite a bit. But it’s not resonating the way my favorite Pixar movies have.
If this was a DreamWorks picture, I’d probably be giving it 4 stars, but it suffers compared to my favorite Pixar.
I think it’s a fair review, Craig, and your star rating isn’t that far off from mine but the last part of your review reveals that Up’s rating suffers a bit from the comparison to other Pixar films.
“It might not be one for the record books, but Up is easily the most likeable mainstream release of the year so far, head and shoulders above what the first part of summer has had to offer and in another league from what passes for most American animation.”
Still, I don’t put a lot of stock in star ratings and I think your review is pretty accurate. It’s a good movie, it’s very entertaining and fairly emotionally satisfying. Plus, it’s pretty original too.
this has been a horrible/medicore year for moveis. and *n* i don’t care how cool this year could be going for whomever else. ok….
thie further peoven by pixar’s/up sooo insane rotten t approval ratting that neen quoted 29 million tomes in net land.
yep i’m being saying what a so lame year for movies (yes for me ok. i said for me.)
and than pixar comes along with maybe the best approval rating since the 1920’s to hammer it home.
see i always said that raise/approval of the pixar stuff always meant/was a bad signal *for me * than up comes along. proof.uh yeah. that;s how it works.
pixar gets it best approval rating ever ??? and this has benn the worse year for movies. really whay have i even bothreed going to movies this year. i’m seen more than i’ve ever seen. and i can’t imagine being more underwhelmed.
but as long as goes well for pixar. guess it’s sign. it’s gonna go crappy for me.
enjoy up. :(
When it comes to wide releases Glimmer, I pretty much agree with you, but there have been a handful of foreign and smaller films that I think have been great. Even so, this year has offered little to get excited about.