Current mood: drained
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
Pixar's "Up" is an inevitable tale of the elderly. The first time we see bloodshed in a family CG film, and we get it from a cute old person. Not only are they using up all of the social security, they are looking to kick our ass. Be it with their four-pronged canes or attack dogs (I'd like to point out that there were no evil [or stupid] cats in this film), they are out to get their way.
Don't trust anyone over 40 never rang so true.
Hopefully, that drew you into this blog about a cute, family friendly film about the bond between like minded explorers regardless of age. Not as daring as "Wall-E" or "Family Guy's" Herbert and Chris relationship, but who needs innovation when you have a well told story...with talking dogs.
Pure bread dogs at that. With the lovable and dimwitted hero pooch Dug, there is either a hidden message about the need to accept everyone or that the meek will actually inherit the Earth. Both views can be seen as optimistic, but I'm hoping its the prior.
But let us get to the elderly conspiracy.
Mr. Fredrickson is a senior citizen who is trying to hold on to what he has after his wife Ellie passes away regardless of the industrialist pigs who want to run him out of town for whatever business seems appropriately placed across from a sushi fast food restaurant. In an "impulsive" reaction to the dust and inadvertent property damage, he attacks and injures a construction worker. Being a threat to society, he is going to have to go to a retirement home and forfeit his house.
Inspired by the dream he and his wife had, he would not go quietly into the night. Instead, he makes quite a spectacle when he decides to turn his house into a dirigible with the help of helium and thousands of party balloons. His quest, to place his house by Paradise Falls in South America like he and his wife had always planned. And with the help of an overzealous Wilderness Explorer named Russell it may work. That is, if they don't inadvertently interfere with the plans of the insane elderly explorer and his dogs' quest to capture the Monster of Paradise Falls.
Let me save the readers $3.00. Do not see the 3-D presentation of the film. Unless you are looking for the effects to make the viewer leave there seats, they are wasted. It may make a great theme park attraction, but not a movie going experience.
Besides, do you really want to play 3-D tricks that could leave the children in the audience (who won't shut up...the worse I remember from my generation was my li'l bro exclaiming, "the bear fell down" during the finale of a "The Fox and the Hound" reissue) in a panic. Pixar can be enjoyed by any audience, don't go out of your way to alienate those who tell their friends to drag their kids to your flick.
Also, Pixar's style is "cartoonish," so it is like my pseudo niece shoving a color form closer to my face. At least in her case it's a "Wonder Pet", Nick Jr's Terry Gilliam of their line up. They are supposed to mess with our mind...right?
Now on to the film. I can understand if it seems long at times to the supposed target audience, because it is really a film about the relationship of Fredrickson and Russell as opposed to actually achieving a task. So that's probably why the kid three rows back would not shut up, and I'm surprise their weren't calls by the wee ones to wee. But for the parents, the story is always building up to something bigger, so they should always be interested. Throw in the talking dogs, and you are rewarded with each step in the rising action of the story.
For me, if you spend this much time on character development, I'd expect a little more dialogue, but I think the universal experience of watching a kid that you didn't plan on watching allows any adult to relate and be frustrated with Fredrickson. And when you are frustrated like that, you know you can't speak...at least without yelling "ear muffs" first.
Beyond the story, there is nothing innovative about the film. It's Pixar's style, and I don't need it changed, so in essence I'm glad it is not much of a 3-D film. Especially, when I only paid $2.50 to see it.
Which reminds me, is "Cars" worth buying (maybe after getting to it a half decade from the original post)? It has movie cash, so I could see Up for free next time if it does.
Up seems to be missing a lot of the elements that made Pixar's film so grand (the soundtrack isn't memorable), but whatever elements it has makes the film worth anyone's full price admission. If you want a great story and great characters this is the film to see.
Up doesn't waste anything it has which is something most blockbusters fail to do, so at this point, it's the best...well I gotta a soft spot for "Watchmen", film of the year. Terminator Salvation can be your room noise this fall.
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