Director: Pete Docter
Cast: Animated – featuring the voices of: Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer, Bob Peterson
Plot Outline: Recently-widowed Carl Frederickson resolves to keep a promise to his late wife, and devises a plan to move their house to Paradise Falls in remote South America. Unwitting (and unwanted) stowaway on the journey is Russell, a young scout who is determined to win his “Assist the Elderly” badge.
Standouts: As with most Pixar movies, the voice work here is amazing—loved Ed Asner, and what a great choice. I had read some months ago that the first 20 minutes of the movie would break my heart, and they did. The film is sweet and touching, and a fun adventure. I have to admit, though, that the ending didn’t sit too well with me—too pat, too “happily ever after,” too boring. I’m not sure what I hoped would happen, but I guess I would have liked the ending to match that same sense of adventure and wonder as the .rest of the film did, and leave me with my mouth hanging open. I loved it, but it still doesn’t beat Toy Story.
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I didn’t have much trouble with the ending. To me the whole story was about Carl being stuck in the past because everything he loved was gone. He was holding on to memories because that was all he had. He grew to love Russell which allowed him to break free and live again. I would have been a little disappointed if it didn’t end the way it did.
I had more trouble with some of the wild action scenes inserted in the middle. While fun to watch, they really seemed out of place to me. More like an addition for kids with ADD who can’t sit through an actual story without mindless mayhem. I thought it sort of cheapened the movie.
I agree with you. It isn’t as good as Toy Story or Wall-E. Maybe not as good as Bolt. Those are fantastic movies and not many equal them. UP was still excellent though and I loved it.