It has been ten years since DIsney/Pixar took over the world of animation, and within that time frame, there has yet to be a misstep. From Toy Story and its sequel to Monsters Inc. and Wall-E, the studio has a way with audience appeal. But now, in an effort to spice things up a bit, the guys who can do no wrong are opting to challenge themselves, this time with a 78-year-old protagonist, Carl Fredricksen.
But where other studios falter, Pixar excels, and this time is no different. Carl's age, though not entirely necessary, adds a humane affect to the story. As a result, the film carries a soft, heartwarming tone, excelling on its comedy and wit and paving way for one of the best animated features to ever hit the big screen.
However, before the film is able to get comical, you must first sit through a dark and gloomy montage that chronicles the life of Carl and his traveling soulmate Ellie. And though tears are sure to enter your eyes, maybe even a quick thought to leave, the depressing sequence is worth seeing as it fully explains Carl's senile attitude towards life and those around him.
Voiced by Ed Asner, enough cannot be said about the cute and irresistible Carl. Full of witty dialogue and sentimental actions, Carl is the heart and soul of the film, giving it life at just the right moments, providing a fun and addicting experience for all.
On the other side of the spectrum is Russell, the overweight Wilderness Boy who somehow finds his way on the unusual balloon-flying adventure. Displaying a certain degree of innocence and child-like humor, Russell is there for the kids, and with good reason. Laughs and cheers come from his heroic attempts at success, and while things don't always pan out as expected, it is the unexpected that make this trip one worth taking.
Ultimately, Pixar has done it again with Up. Full of life and adventure, the animated tale displays some extraordinary story-telling, relatable characters and just enough humor to go down as one of the studio's most complete and entertaining escapes yet.
Up is also being shown in 3-D, a first for Pixar.
