Pixar's Up

If there is one name in Hollywood and cinema that is equivilent with greatness, its Pixar animations. They have been known to produce film after film like Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story, all of which have received enormous praise and box-office success. Their latest offering is Up which came out during the summer of 2009 is Up.

One of the reasons why Pixar has achieved its flawless reputation, is all there movies have a good story and characters. However, after nine films their patterns and similarities are beginning to grow transparent. Most of their films revolve around two primary characters who do not get along at first, but grow to become friends. Toy Story had Buzz and Woody, Wall-e had Eve and Wall-e, and Ratatouille had Remy and Linguine. Up follows the characters Carl Fredrickson, an elderly short tempered man, and Russell an energetic and happy child. This writing technique of pairing two unlikely characters is used very often in films like buddy cop movies and romantic comedies becuase it creates tension and character development between the characters. Having a story about two people who have nothing in common and must learn to get along provides an ideal opportunity to create a funny script and entertaining story. However, it takes good writing and believable characters to make this strategy work. Up and most of Pixar's films manage this quite well.

Pixar is noted for having very adult thems in their movies and their latest film Up is the darkest of them all. The film starts off seeming like it will be a happy little tale filled with joy and humor. Carl meets his wife Ellie when their both kids and lots of laughter ensues. However, the story is anything but bright and happy as we are treated to a heart breaking montage which showcases the entire lives of the couple in a few short minutes. It even shows that Ellie had a miscarriage, something unthinkable of putting in an animated film. It also ends with Ellie dying and Carl sadly mourning her. Some might find this writing too depressing, while others enjoy a story that does not play it safe and deals with real human issues. The film then takes a happier turn as the character Russell shows up and provides lots of comic relief and the two fly upward in Carl's house as the house is actually lifted up by hundreds of balloons attached to it by carl. The two characters then encounter many adventures as they sail away in the flying house and then find themselves stranded in a jungle.

The film explores many themes not often found in animated movies. The most prominet is the issue of love and death. Although Ellie, is given very little screen time, the audience grows to care about her, and we can really feel the pain and grief that Carl feels throughout the film. We are reminded of her death quite often as Carl stares longinly at a photo of her in his house. The other main character who becomes a part of Carl's life is Russell. Their relationship receives the most attention, as Carl grows from finding the kid annoying and irksome, to deeply caring about him. This is further exasperated by Russells lack of a father. It is clear that his attachment towards Carl is not because he really likes the man, but because he yearns for a father-figure in his life and by the end of the film, Carl has filled that void. Spending time with Russell also softens Carl's heart and begins to open him up from the shell he clamped in when his wife died. The story is carefully crafted out so that when Carl does change from an angry old man, it feels natural and believable after everything he's been through.

Up is a movie that takes great risks. Focusing a kids movie on an old man is not something studios do very often, but it was still able to draw large crowds due to its story and script. Being able to tell a story that balances laughter, action, and tears is no easy feet, but Pixar is often able to pull it off.