UP just won Best Animation for the 2010 Oscars, and it deserves every thing it gets, there are few children's animated movies that can top this one.
The story begins as a retired balloon salesman, Carl Frederickson, opens his door and a van from the retirement home is out front. Two men are ready to take him away, but he tells them he’s got to get a couple of things, and shuts the door.
Then the men watch stunned as the house rise off its foundation when thousands of brightly colored balloons are unleashed, it drifts away into the sky with Carl laughing madly, nearly smashing into buildings. It keeps going up until it is above the clouds, steered by a system of sails and ropes, and the weather vane.
Carl Finds He Has a Stowaway in His House Balloon
Carl sits down to take a break, and there is a knock on the door. He is astounded, how can someone be on the porch a mile in the sky? He opens it, and there is a neighbor, an 8-year old Boy Scout named Russell, who happened to be on the porch when the house rose.
Carl’s destination is a magical place called Paradise Falls in South America, and he has carefully saved a picture of the waterfall.
Along the way Russell and Carl have many adventures with a strange large bird and a dog that can talk, while fighting to save the bird from being captured by a weird old explorer with dozens of hostile dogs.
Carl and Russell Capture Dirigible
Later, they take over a dirigible manned by the explorer as they successfully battle the enemy and the dogs, and look for the elusive Paradise Falls.
The humor in the dialogue is enjoyable, and in one scene, there are several of the dogs sitting at a poker table playing cards, a nice takeoff on the clichéd picture.
Probably the most extraordinary aspect of the Pixar animation is the realistic vertigo-inducing views from the house as it floats high in the sky, and then drifts through a vast jungles and mountainous areas.
Voices by Stars like Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer Combine with Great Music
Ed Asner does great voices, in addition to ones contributed by Christopher Plummer (Sound of Music). The soaring classical music score is soothing, and a pleasant change from the typical fare in children’s movies.
“UP” was directed by Pete Docter and produced by Jonas Rivera, with music by Michael Giacchino, and was created by the team that did Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. It won the Annie Award for animation, in addition to the Oscar, and the People's Choice for Favorite Family Movie.
There is something about being in high in the sky that is inspiring, and very different from other children’s movies. The bonding of all the creatures with Carl and Russell as they accomplish various tasks and challenges delivers a good message to children.
Keywords: Pixar, Up!, Michael Giacchino, Pete Docter, Jonas Rivera, Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Sound of Music, South America
Join the Conversation