Up
July 27, 2009 10:53 PM
Directed by: Peter Docter, Bob Peterson
Full Cast/Crew/Production Info
Just got back from seeing Pixar’s animated feature “UP.” Saw it with my 7 year old son. It was his second viewing, my first. I was constantly made aware of this fact through out the film due to his rapid fire precognition of all “the good parts.” It was like seeing a movie with 4 foot tall psychic who divined each and every pivotal moment of the movie with a larger than life stage whisper that the rest of the audience could plainly hear…
“Okay Mamma, this is Mr. Fredricksen when he’s a little boy.” “Mamma, he’s getting married to his friend. Oh and THAT Guy turns evil .Oh and look at THAT. Don’t be sad at this part, Mamma. Are you crying? I’ll be so embarrassed if you’re crying. WAIT! This is the part…oh yeah…okay now, Mamma, this is Russelll and…DID YOU SEE THAT?! Oh, I talked through it. That’s okay….just wait for this next part. It’s the best. Well, not actually THE Best, but one of them. Oh, you’re not going to believe what’s going to happen next…”
Despite the running monologue (one best saved for the DVD release and listened to on another channel once you’ve seen the film at least once), my son was right. I couldn’t believe what was going to happen next. And it was great!
As with all of PIxar’s feature releases this one was preceded by one of their funky short films. As I had to rush out from my Kickboxing class to make the movie, we missed some of it. That’s okay. I got an extra helping of cardio, running from the parking garage to the theater. Frankly, I recommend a quick wind sprint before a film. Takes the guilt off the extra butter with the popcorn. Do one now before you finish reading my review…
Back already? Nice work, dudes.
“UP” is a quirky, funny, heartfelt slice from the Pixar Pie of Fabulous Filmmaking. Its charm lies in its unpredictability. Whould’ve thunk that a cartoon about a cranky old dude, who has shut himself off from the world and is stuck suspended in the atmosphere in his old house, which is crammed with memories of his past and faded dreams of a future not related to the present, being held afloat by a billion balloons….could turn out to be such a genuinely fun, frothy, gentle story about love, change, acceptance and adventure?
And the husky Wilderness Scout stuck in the air with him, pretty much fuels the whole enchilada. Great chemistry, even if they are just animated. That’s the thing about Pixar. You forget about that when you’re watching the film. And that is so cool.
Truth be told, I wasn’t in a rush to see “UP.” I hated the marketing. It didn’t seem that interesting or engaging to me. I kept thinking…it’s not like “WALL-E.” Everyone wanted a WALL-E action figure. I bought a couple of EVEs for myself. But what kid is going to want to play with a 75 year old Geezer toy? Or an old, serpentine Evil Guy in a blimp?
After seeing “UP” I would totally pick up a Mr. Fredricksen doll….just as long as it had had Ed Asner’s voice saying “No.” Don’t know what I’m referring to? See the movie. It’s not just for Little Dudes. Wait a second, do a quick set of runners, 30 Jacks and get that wind sprint in en route from the parking lot to the theater, okay? Just do it!
One my SQUAT SCALE of 1-10, I give “UP” 8.5 SQUATS. Why not a perfect 10? Because, although it was wonderful, I, personally (and this is splitting hairs, I know) didn’t think it was quite up to the level of “WALL-E” or ‘MONSTERS, INC.” Then again, I did have to watch it with my son excitedly giving away every possible plot point moments before it happened through the entire film. Which, was further from being a nuisance than you can imagine.
If you’d like more information about balloon travel, check these sites out: Popular Mechanics and NASA.
Keep those endorphins pumping, kids. And don’t fear The Corn!!
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Despite the running monologue (one best saved for the DVD release and listened to on another channel once you’ve seen the film at least once), my son was right. I couldn’t believe what was going to happen next. And it was great!
As with all of PIxar’s feature releases this one was preceded by one of their funky short films. As I had to rush out from my Kickboxing class to make the movie, we missed some of it. That’s okay. I got an extra helping of cardio, running from the parking garage to the theater. Frankly, I recommend a quick wind sprint before a film. Takes the guilt off the extra butter with the popcorn. Do one now before you finish reading my review…
Back already? Nice work, dudes.
“UP” is a quirky, funny, heartfelt slice from the Pixar Pie of Fabulous Filmmaking. Its charm lies in its unpredictability. Whould’ve thunk that a cartoon about a cranky old dude, who has shut himself off from the world and is stuck suspended in the atmosphere in his old house, which is crammed with memories of his past and faded dreams of a future not related to the present, being held afloat by a billion balloons….could turn out to be such a genuinely fun, frothy, gentle story about love, change, acceptance and adventure?
And the husky Wilderness Scout stuck in the air with him, pretty much fuels the whole enchilada. Great chemistry, even if they are just animated. That’s the thing about Pixar. You forget about that when you’re watching the film. And that is so cool.
Truth be told, I wasn’t in a rush to see “UP.” I hated the marketing. It didn’t seem that interesting or engaging to me. I kept thinking…it’s not like “WALL-E.” Everyone wanted a WALL-E action figure. I bought a couple of EVEs for myself. But what kid is going to want to play with a 75 year old Geezer toy? Or an old, serpentine Evil Guy in a blimp?
After seeing “UP” I would totally pick up a Mr. Fredricksen doll….just as long as it had had Ed Asner’s voice saying “No.” Don’t know what I’m referring to? See the movie. It’s not just for Little Dudes. Wait a second, do a quick set of runners, 30 Jacks and get that wind sprint in en route from the parking lot to the theater, okay? Just do it!
One my SQUAT SCALE of 1-10, I give “UP” 8.5 SQUATS. Why not a perfect 10? Because, although it was wonderful, I, personally (and this is splitting hairs, I know) didn’t think it was quite up to the level of “WALL-E” or ‘MONSTERS, INC.” Then again, I did have to watch it with my son excitedly giving away every possible plot point moments before it happened through the entire film. Which, was further from being a nuisance than you can imagine.
If you’d like more information about balloon travel, check these sites out: Popular Mechanics and NASA.
Keep those endorphins pumping, kids. And don’t fear The Corn!!
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