From ew, As buoyant and richly tinted as the balloons that figure so prominently in its story, Up is also thoroughly grounded in real emotion and ideas of substance. How's that for an instant boost? The result is a lovely, thoughtful, and yes, uplifting adventure (in 3-D where available) about an old guy, a kid, and a house that sails through the air, opening up new routes in life to people who thought they were stuck in their loneliness. The movie — which opened the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, a fresh choice — is Pixar's 10th commanding feature-length demonstration that the most inventive and fully rounded stories in movies today are being told by characters who require an animator's hand to breathe. Up is a beaut. And for once, 3-D animation proves its worth. (More on that in a moment.)
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Another review,
By Claudia Puig, USA TODAY
Who would expect a 78-year-old curmudgeon who smells of prunes and a pudgy 8-year-old to emerge as the summer's most heroic duo?
Adventure comes in many forms and can happen at any stage of life. Disney/Pixar's Up conveys that message through an artful blend of exhilaration and poignancy.
The company that created WALL·E, Ratatouille and the Toy Story movies maintains its standard of excellence. Up will elicit a giddy joy among audience members with its gorgeous visuals and glossy 3-D animation.
But the film's exquisite emotional depth puts it in a category of its own. Wordlessly, co-directors Bob Peterson and Pete Docter capture the full measure of a man's life in what may be the most touching and effective montage sequence ever. All too often, a montage functions as padding rather than narrative illustration. Here, in about eight minutes, accompanied by Michael Giacchino's evocative score, Up wondrously conveys the highs, lows and middles of a life that is both ordinary and extraordinary.
Balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen (voiced superbly by Edward Asner) has long felt the heart of an adventurer beating within. Early on, he meets and falls in love with the adventurous Ellie (Elie Docter). Content and comfortable, they don't venture much farther than their cozy home.
When opportunity knocks, Carl seizes the chance to fulfill his dream. Propelled aloft by thousands of balloons, he ventures to an exotic land that he and Ellie had dreamed of visiting. Scenes of soaring over the city are among the movie's best.
The expedition takes a turn when Carl is joined by Russell (Jordan Nagai), an ebullient Scout. They meet Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), a disgraced explorer and dog trainer. Segments involving the dogs, who speak, are the movie's funniest.
Easily the summer's, and probably the year's, most enchanting movie, Up is a buoyant delight.
Yay! I love it when Pixar does well.
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