Movie Review: Up

Up (2009) 

Directed by Pete Docter 

Written by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter

Starring Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai 

Release Date May 29th, 2009 

Published May 28th, 2009 

The motion picture academy doesn't want to admit it. Most of Hollywood for some reason doesn't want to admit it. The hidden fact is that the vanguard of art and commerce in Hollywood has nothing to do with a big star or a well known director. No, the true vanguard of cinema in fact centers on the computer generated images crafted by the collective geniuses at Pixar.

For more than a decade now Pixar, originally of spin off of Lucas Films, has crafted one hit movie after another. Oh, but these are not merely hit movies. Each Pixar feature, from Toy Story 1 & 2 to The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc and Wall E, has brought new life to the animated form as well as heart and a brain.

Pixar has created the greatest, most envied resume of films in the last 50 years, since the grand studio dynasties broke apart. Ten consecutive hit movies. Ten consecutive critical favorites. Ten movies that each can make the case to have been among the best movies, not merely animated movies, released in that particular year.

The latest Pixar effort adds to the wondrous pantheon of Pixar genius. Up stars the voice of Ed Asner as Carl Fredrickson. Carl lost his beloved Ellie a few years back and has been awaiting his turn with the undertaker ever since. Content to putter about in the home he and Ellie built more than 5 decades ago, Carl finds his life upended by progress.

Around him has sprung up office buildings and cafes and he stands against that progress. With the prospect of losing his home looming, Carl hatches a wild plan. Having been a balloon seller at the zoo for years, Carl uses his vast knowledge of balloons and helium to fashion his home into an uncanny flying machine.

His escape made, Carl turns toward South America content and alone until a knock on the door. It seems a young scout named Russell (Jordan Nagai) has accidentally become a stowaway. Like it or not, Russell is along for the ride to South America and a place called Paradise Falls where Ellie had hoped she and Carl would one day go.

That's the set up. The execution of Up is ten times more enthralling than my description. From the animation to the voice work, Up is a remarkable achievement. The animation is full of life and color. The characters are thoughtful, sweet and unforcingly funny. The humor of Up comes from such a natural and heartfelt place that you laugh from the sheer joy of the experience.

While far too many adults will ludicrously write Up off as kiddie fare, those who do will miss out on what will be one of the best movies of 2009. Few movies before it or those on the way will be able to compete with the warm, hearty characters and glorious imagination that went into the creation of Up.

The Hollywood elite need to get their heads together and finally do the right thing. They have for too long ignored the best work in the entertainment business. Pixar is the top of Hollywood's class and  yet year after year Pixar films are kept out of competition for Best Picture by a jealous actor's branch unwilling to recognize anything that doesn't feature famous faces, only voices.

The Best Animated Feature category was created to mollify those who pushed for Pixar in the Best Picture category. Now is the time to ignore such ludicrous category distinctions and Up offers the opportunity to do what should have been done years ago, honor the Pixar team in the Best Picture category where they belonged with movies like Wall E last year, Ratatouille or Toy Story. Yes, Up is that good.