Looking at Pixar Studios' body of work as a whole, their 10th film, "Up", probably falls on the lower end of the scale. But while it never reaches the artistic heights of "
Wall-E", it's still a Pixar film. As such, it may be lesser Pixar, but it's still head and shoulders above other family films this year.
Whatever's in the water over there, they need to bottle it up and sell it to other filmmakers. Few studios pay even half as much attention to the art and craft of storytelling as they do. As proof, watch the first 10 or 15 minutes of "Up". The protagonist, Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), is a 70-something curmudgeon — a cranky recluse, clinging to his memories and his home in the face of "progress". But before we meet Carl the old man, we meet Carl the boy — a boy who dreams of adventures like his hero, explorer Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer). In a dark theater, Carl watches black and white newsreels of Muntz as he travels around the world in his blimp. One fateful day, Carl meets another Muntz fan — a brash tomboy named Ellie. While Carl only dreams of adventures, Ellie seems to create them. They form a club and, eventually, a life together. In a stunning montage sequence, we see Carl and Ellie's life through the years. Their ups and downs, joys and heartbreaks are told completely without dialogue. Eloquently moving without being overly sentimental, it is a masterful piece of storytelling.
In the present, Carl is a retired balloon salesman facing the destruction of his home at the hands of developers. Rather than be shuttled off to a nursing home, Carl makes one last attempt to live the adventure he and Ellie dreamt of their entire lives. Tethering thousands of helium balloons to his hearth, he sends his house skyward. Unfortunately, a young Wilderness Explorer named Russell (Jordan Nagai) accidentally comes along for the ride.
Carl and Russell are an unlikely pair of action heroes. Though festooned with merit badges and loaded down with outdoor gear, Russell has never actually been camping. Stooped and aided by a cane, Carl is barely able to make it up and down the stairs, let alone embark upon an expedition. Yet, they find themselves in the rugged and otherworldly landscape of Paradise Falls — a lost world of jutting, desolate mesas, thick jungles and strange creatures — including a rare 13-foot tall flightless bird, hunted by a mysterious old hermit and his pack of talking dogs.
The dogs don't actually talk, but are fitted with electronic collars that interpret their barks as human speech. The reason why such collars would be necessary is never made clear, other than as a means to add more gags to the film. But as gratuitous and strange as the dog dialogue is, it is no less funny. The most laughs come from a sweet-natured, goofy retriever named Dug who quickly befriends Carl and Russell. Voiced by "Up" screenwriter Bob Peterson (who also voiced Roz in "Monsters, Inc."), Dug's stream-of-conscious speech can only be described as dog-like ("I just met you, but I love you!", "Squirrel!", "Point!"). Peterson also voices the leader of the pack, Alpha — an intimidating doberman with a bit of a voice box problem.
As in all the Pixar films, voice talent plays a huge role in bringing the story to life. Ed Asner has made a career of playing the tough, gruff guy with a heart of gold. As Carl, he's wonderfully cantankerous, yet kindhearted. He brings so much to the character, one wishes he were working more often. The character of Russell could have been irritating and mawkish, but first-time actor Jordan Nagai imbues him with a genuine childlike curiosity and enthusiasm that plays well against Carl's crustiness.
Besides being their 10th film, "Up" is Pixar's first in 3D. After seeing films like "Monster House" and "Coraline" that have used 3D to great effect, expectations are high for Pixar's take on the new technology. Surprisingly (or perhaps not surprisingly), director Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc.") decides to use 3D as just another color in their palette. There are no gimmicks or paddle balls to remind the audience they're watching a 3D movie. Instead, Docter plays with dimension as a way to enhance the themes of the film. Inside, it's flatter and more subdued. Outside, scenes are more dimensional and expansive. It's a subtle and wonderful touch.
While odd and sometimes gratuitous story points may weigh it down from time to time, "Up" is a buoyant, whimsical film with an endearing message of friendship and keeping the spirit of adventure — no matter where or how old you are.
