Up

A fun and charming adventure.

'Up' certainly knows how to tug at the heartstrings. It creates a very meaningful story around Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), with the early scenes particularly standing out as superb.

I don't overly enjoy the parts with Dug (Bob Peterson) and Kevin (Pete Docter), not that they are bad, though everything with Fredricksen, Russell (Jordan Nagai) and Charles F. Muntz (Christopher Plummer) is entertaining and/or hearty.

Asner and Nagai do terrific, in what is one of Disney's 'best of the rest' films. There is some lovely music by Michael Giacchino, too. Go watch!

To Christopher Plummer and Ed Asner...

RIP.

Widowed "Carl" (anyone else thinks he looks like Henry Kissinger?) gets himself involved in an altercation with a construction worker that sees him court-ordered to the "Shady Oak" retirement home. He's having none of that, and on the day of his deportation releases thousands of balloons from his chimney. They manage to uproot his house and using some rudimentary sails he sets off in search of "Paradise Falls". Deep in South America lie these idyllic waters where he and his late wife dreamt of visiting. En route, and a few hundred feet up, he hears a knock at the door. It's "Russell". A boy scout from his home town who just happened to find himself on the balcony when it took flight. The two don't immediately bond, but after a thunderstorm ...

"UP" is a movie that begins with a poignant and emotional experience, immediately tugging at the heartstrings with a touching portrayal of loss and longing. The journey of Carl embarking on adventures inspired by his late wife's dreams is both heartfelt and captivating, drawing viewers into a world filled with emotion and wonder.

The dynamic between Carl, Russell, Kevin, and Dug adds excitement and depth to the story, as they embark on extraordinary adventures together. The over-the-top and ridiculous villain brings a sense of thrill and suspense to the narrative, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

The bond between Carl and Russell, an older gentleman and a Boy Scout, is a central highlight of the film, showcasing a beautiful a...

I'm always struck by how much jeopardy and peril there is in modern family films. Not that it's a bad thing... But I was also the child who had to be taken out of the cinema during 101 Dalmatians, Pinocchio, and Bambi.