After seeing the greatness that was WALL-E last year, many people (myself included) thought that Pixar simply couldn’t top themselves. Through the power of animation, and without having to resort to cheap tricks and gimmicks to lure punters in, the Emeryville-based production company created a futuristic world akin to the cinematic greats. Pixar simply couldn’t beat this pinnacle of cinema they’d created…
…and they haven’t: at least not yet. Up is an extremely good film, perhaps the best released this year so far, but fails to meet the extraordinarily giddy heights established by its predecessor. Never producing any ‘Wow!’ moments and becoming the victim of adventure film clichés, Up remains stranded in the ‘very good’ category of Pixar films.
Up tells the tale of recently widowed Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Edward Asner) and his childhood dream of moving his house to the jungle of Paradise Falls in South America. After a tussle with a construction worker over a broken mailbox, the court orders Carl to move into a retirement home. Carl then proceeds to do what any other 80-year-old ex-balloon vendor would do: tie tens of thousands of helium balloons to his house and fly to South America! This scene produces easily the most striking images in the film. Seeing it in trailers however does take out the wow factor that it should have received on the big screen. If you’re reading this without somehow seeing the blitz of Up advertising, you’re very lucky indeed.
The problems soon start for Carl when he realises he has a stowaway in the form of Russell (newcomer Jordan Nagai), a Wilderness Explorer trying to earn his final merit badge for “Assisting the Elderly”. Upon their eventual arrival in South America, more crazy antics ensue when the pair meet Dug (Pixar animator Bob Peterson), a talking dog obsessed with squirrels (Bob Peterson) and Kevin, a flightless (and female) exotic bird. It’s in these characters where the film really shines.
Where the film falls slightly flat is in the final act, where an inevitable chase sequence has to occur in order to get a satisfying ending. It’s done extremely well, and in any other film would be considered a triumph. However, in the tremendously original Up, the final act holds the film back from being considered a classic.
Still, Up is still an extraordinary effort from an extraordinary film studio. Come February next year, the folks at Pixar will surely have another Oscar on their very hefty awards cabinet for their latest effort.
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