Up

Along with the three Toy Story films, Up represents the pinnacle of Pixar’s cinematic achievements – as the movie is as entertaining, engrossing, and moving as anything within the animated realm. The film follows 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) as he attempts to fulfill his lifelong dream of traveling to South America, though he does this by arming his rickety old house with thousands of helium balloons. The journey immediately stumbles as Carl discovers that he’s taken on a stowaway in the form of an eager young Wilderness Scout named Russell (Jordan Nagai), with their eventual arrival in South America bringing them face-to-face with both friends (Dug, an adorable talking dog) and foes (Charles Muntz, a fearsome explorer). It’s an off-the-wall premise that’s utilized to consistently enthralling effect by filmmakers Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, with the fully-realized nature of the central character certainly playing a substantial role in the movie’s palpable success. Docter and Peterson, working from their own screenplay, kick the proceedings off with an absolutely stunning stretch devoted entirely to Carl’s backstory, and it almost feels as though the film has painted itself into a corner with this emotionally devastating portrait of Carl’s marriage to his childhood sweetheart (ie how can the movie possibly top its opening 20 minutes?) The chemistry between Carl and Russell certainly plays a pivotal role in Up‘s subsequent success, with the pair’s various misadventures in South America heightened by the frequently breathtaking visuals and ongoing emphasis on colorful supporting characters (with Dug undoubtedly stealing every single one of his scenes). By the time the action-heavy yet thoroughly stirring (and even a little moving) climax rolls around, Up has firmly cemented its place as an animated masterpiece that deserves to be mentioned alongside the genre’s best and most respected offerings.

**** out of ****