Review of 2009 “UP” Movie – An endearing cartoon flick

Published on: 3rd June, 2009

2009 UP Movie Reviews, Trailers, Stills, Wallpapers

UP has already premiered in Cannes, a fancy venture by Pixar Animation for the tenth time, is replete with dirigibles, wacky explorers, and striking risky locations. With the endearing vision of a cantankerous aged man(78 years), Carl, the central character in the movie, with thousand-odd bright and breezy balloons lifting off his house into the air, the Director Pete Doctor makes a quaint attempt at getaway from the unavoidable hurdles of life, that seem to bog us down. The very likable character of the rugged featured Carl, ex-balloon salesman is bound to touch a soft spot in many a young hearts that instantly connect with their elderly folks.

Pixar’s exceptional 3-D effects are at a superlative level with wonderful imagery of the early take off of the house, the dizzy heights they touch on their route, charming images of the gleeful little girl as the balloons takeoff rendering Technicolor hues to her room and their adventures in a strange land.

The movie takes off with the shots of little Carl drooling over the newsreel images of his idol, the globally renowned surveyor, Charles Muntz played by Christopher Plummer, where Muntz vows to return only after his name has been cleared of false implications. The subtle means through which Pixar handles emotions is exemplary. The decompressed, silent shots enhanced with scintillating back scores by the Michael Giacchino, where Carl meets his soul mate Ellie, the eventual culmination from childhood sweethearts to holy matrimony and how they grey together with their fare share of bolts and bliss in their life, is something one and all can relate to in some point in their life.

After this brief preface comes the sunken stage of the now widowed Carl who fondly remembers his departed wife, Ellie and her longing to visit Paradise Falls, for which the couple has saved so long for. An unfortunate turn of events sees Carl being compelled to live in an old home, leaving Carl no option but to hoist his home up in the air with the aid of a thousand odd balloons, towards the dream destination the couple always wanted to venture into, the Paradise Falls in South America.

His thrills soon get a subdued when he realizes the presence of his pesky, little 8 year old friend, Russell who landed at up at his door for self-centred gains. How Carl has to don the responsibilities of taking care of Russell are evident through the movie as he protects Russell from unlikely dangers.

The Director’s attention to detail is evident in several shots, the main one involving Carl trying to gain control of his house which is secured to his upper body.

The scenes that follow involve how the chanced, privileged meeting of Carl with his all-time idol, Muntz turns into an unlikely series of events, and how they emerge out unscathed is one hell of a topsy-turvy ride.

The crazy histrionics of Russell, the very likeable dogs who can do human tasks and can speak their minds out and the whacky shots adept with flamboyant imagination definitely makes it a worth watch.

Pixar has successfully conjugated a live-wire, enthralling, cheerful flick bursting with all shades of human emotions.