Up and Up...

You should go see the film “Up”... if you're ever up for it.

Ah, yes, the pun. How nice.

And the film is even nicer if you're a genuine fan looking for good animation along with a decent story to it. There's a lot going for this one.

I've always been a fan of the Pixar stuff ever since they hit the screens delighting audiences of all ages with their creative ideas and internal messages that sends a moral streak. Films like “Toy Story” and my own favorite “Wall-E” are self-proclaimed Pixar products that are worthy ventures to see. And bring your kids along too if you have any.

Now “Up” has become one of my favorites as well. The sense of wonderment paints an age old notion: no matter who you are, or whatever age you are, the world is your oyster. And exploring it only takes a first step in bravery.

The story is about a crankshaft type Carl, voiced by the Ed Asner, who befriends his soon to be wife at a very early age as kids. Both of them like the idea of adventure. And they make the promise of living in a place called Paradise Falls located somewhere in the strange beauty of South America.

The girl grows up to be a redheaded beauty still full of spark and livelihood. She remains the very opposite of Carl who is somewhat quite and straight-laced. Carl grows up to look like, well, Ed Asner.

But the promise still holds for both of them.

But the years go by, and so do the rainy days, and they continue to put off their dream of moving down into South America.

However, her death leaves him a very bitter man wrapped in loss, misery, a recluse. But he maintains his promise of getting to his dreamy retirement spot in the spirit of his wife. Her voice, her reason, drives him. And by golly, he's going to get down there no matter what it takes. He eventually does by using his house lifted by balloons to take it away from the big city craziness. His house becomes the center part of “Up.” With balloons.

This is a beautifully crafted animated film filled with great ideas and bits of science fiction. And this is the biggest draw for the audiences... the fantasy of cartoon people acting out in a situation. Their voices match the moods. You can clearly see that the crew of this film have fun making this movie. It shows a lot of heart.

I'm sure people will be confused and won't understand what is going on within the first half hour of the film. “I don't get it” seems to be the typical reaction of lazy folks who don't want to think through a film. The same thing happened with “Wall-E” which is a very smart cartoon film. So is “Up.” Which balloons its way into greatness like so many Pixar films.

Interestingly enough, the film doesn't have any bad guys in the first half of the film. It isn't until the second half when Carl meets up with his childhood hero Charles Munz, played by the wonderful Christopher Plummer, where the story finally becomes the classic good vs. evil mode found in so many children's story. It's easy to see why. Munz is a greedy, calculating beast bent on gaining his own popularity. He also flies his own craft called “The Spirit of Adventure” which has ignited the imagination of little children in the younger days including Carl himself.

Munz also invented collars in which his legion of dogs can communicate through in English. And the collars reflect the very thoughts they are thinking. It's sort of a primitive version of ESP. Only more fun.

I don't think Plummer himself has done any voices for a cartoon before, so it may be the first for him. Certainly the first for a Pixar film. It's a commendable job on his part.

There are a lot of nice touches in the film. The bits with Carl growing older with his wife are a tearjerker. You can feel the anguish of her loss of a child when she has a miscarriage or the obvious love they have for each other when they share handprints on the old mailbox outside of their house. Their love is an endless one. Much like a fairy tale. Making their marriage into a kind of story makes the atmosphere for the rest of “Up” feeling like a fairy tale too. It certainly is a strange story filled with even stranger birds and dogs that are able to speak to you by saying, “Yes, master.”

Ed Asner plays the typical curmudgeon, the perfect recluse who wants nothing to do with the rest of the world. So he taps into the feelings of so many people in our day and age... as he finds a way of soaring higher, away from the rest of the human race pursuing his dreams. The simple house in Paradise Falls. He simply wants to lead a simple life. And I'm sure so does everyone else.

But in doing so, he makes friends along the way. It might be something his wife wanted all along. A way for him to find a second chance at living his life. He becomes friends with a boy scout who wants to have honorary mention of helping the elderly. But the boy does more than that. He helps Carl by keeping his company throughout his adventure, also making friends for life. How rare is that?

This film isn't a star studded one. There are only a few familiar names in it. But it is the heart of the film that carries it. And children will like the inventiveness and humor in the story. (Carl lifting the tennis balls he used at the foot of his cane and shouting “Fetch!” to distract the legion of dogs). Many older folks, like myself, will enjoy the creative story and feel like a young kid again.

This is a kind of movie where you have to suspend your disbelief. A house floating with balloons? It sounds more like something from Monty Python. But you'll enjoy it more through the POV of a ten year old kid. Suspend your disbelief. Try it. Not so hard to do. I did. And I liked it greatly.

It is certainly up, up and away for me while watching this movie... only this cartoon doesn't have a superhero dusting off the bad guys in his heroics... but just a gentle old grouch looking for a way to spend his life in paradise. And realizing that he can find more friends in paradise. And a love story that never has an end. A beautiful movie to watch with your friends or family. Don't miss this one.