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Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Bob Peterson, Jordan Nagai ... see more see more... , Delroy Lindo , Jérôme Ranft , Paul Eiding , David Kaye , Elie Docter , Jeremy Leary

A feisty septuagenarian teams with a fearless wilderness ranger to do battle with a vicious band of beasts and villains in this computer-animated adventure scripted by Pixar veteran Bob Peterson and c... read more read more...o-directed by Peterson and Monsters, Inc. director Peter Docter. Carl Fredricksen is a 78-year-old balloon salesman. His entire life, Carl has longed to wander the wilds of South America. Then, one day, the irascible senior citizen shocks his neighbors by tying thousands of balloons to his home and finally taking flight. But Carl isn't alone on his once-in-a-lifetime journey, because stowed away on his front porch is an excitable eight-year-old wilderness explorer named Russell. Later, as the house touches down on the world's second largest continent, Carl and his unlikely traveling companion step outside to discover that not only is their new front lawn considerably larger, but that the predators therein are much more ferocious than anything they ever faced back home. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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98% liked it

275 critics

PG, 1 hr. 29 min.

Directed by: Peter Docter, Pete Docter, Bob Peterson

Release Date: May 29, 2009

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DVD Release Date: November 10, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (70,910)

  • jmanard52
    November 12, 2009
    jmanard52
    A fun and very well uplifting film lol.
  • mumby1988
    May 19, 2012
    mumby1988
    The work of PIXAR is held in such high standing that any hint of criticism runs the risk of seemingly deliberately contrary or obtuse. While we may be fans of PIXAR's output, and wish the films and their creators nothing but success, it is always dangerous to presume that their l... read moreatest offering will be a masterpiece by way of association - a point which I fleshed out in my review of Ratatouille not so long ago.

    Viewed in cold and clinical terms, Up doesn't come close to challenging the likes of Toy Story or Finding Nemo for the jewel in PIXAR's crown. Its relatively simple plot and increasingly goofy tendencies prevent it from achieving the same level of universal appeal. But there is enough enjoyment and emotional attachment which the film brings to prevent it from being seen in such clinical terms, even by the cynical hyenas patiently waiting for PIXAR to drop the ball, or let go of the balloon.

    When WALL-E was released in 2008, many critics commented on the film's opening 20 minutes being of a different and perhaps superior tone to the rest of the film. The opening act, featuring WALL-E roaming the abandoned Earth, is effectively an animated retuning of Silent Running which uses the language of silent cinema to great effect. Similarly, many critics who saw Up were impressed with the opening montage but relatively underwhelmed by what followed.

    Regardless of what follows it, the opening of Up is brilliant. Like WALL-E it has its roots in silent film, insofar as it employs physical gesture and the shapes of the characters to convey a narrative. It is so effective in doing this that we can move through a lifetime in a matter of minutes, feeling as though we know every foible and memory that these characters have developed and shared together. The recurring images of jars being broken, stumbling up hills and balloons floating provide both poignancy and continuity. We go through a whole gamut of emotions, ending up with a teary eye and a broken heart.

    Up is a relatively mature children's film, insofar as it deals with the disappointment that results from our high expectations of life. We see Carl coming to terms with the death of his wife and recognising that his life hasn't turned out the way he planned. There never was a great adventure to South America, and many of their smaller aspirations (such as having children) never materialised. This disappointment is also present in the character of Charles Muntz, played by Christopher Plummer. There is something of a Heart of Darkness quality to Carl's discovery of his boyhood hero: both Muntz and Kurtz have reputations which were near-perfect, before disappearing after a tarnishing mistake.

    But while the film accepts that such disappointments will inevitably come our way, the message of Up is that we should not lose the spirit of adventure or the passions that gave us our ambitions in the first place. There is a touching bitter-sweetness to the film which comes out in the moments of recognition on the part of Carl, the most touching being the discovery of Ellie's message in the back of her adventure book. For all the sad moments the film is ultimately very uplifting and valedictory.

    Taken in terms of pure entertainment, Up is really good fun. There are a wide range of good jokes on offer, ranging from the comic interplay between Carl and Russell to the squeaky voice of Alpha and the wide shots showing our heroes pulling the house along the cliffs. The chase sequences are suspenseful and well-designed, and the final aerial set-piece is pretty well-structured. The sight of Russell squeaking and scraping along the airship's windows will raise many a chuckle or guffaw.

    The other huge plus point of Up is its visuals. It's difficult to talk about the cinematography of CG animated films: unlike the stop-motion efforts of Aardman, there is no actual, physical lighting of which to speak. What is noticeable is that PIXAR's animators are getting better at animating humans and creating fleshy tones. While the human characters in Toy Story look overly angular in hindsight, their counterparts in Up have a good balance between cartoon caricature and realism. Like Pete Docter's previous film, Monsters Inc., the attention to detail is superb, with Kevin's feathers being every bit as meticulous as Sully's hair.

    The problems with Up come when it begins to openly embrace convention. This is as much an issue with PIXAR's reputation as it is with the film in itself: we expect them to be ground-breaking to such an extent that when they serve up something more generic we feel short-changed. While there is nothing wrong with embracing genre conventions as a means of giving the fans what they want, it becomes more of a problem when a film is being billed as a work of greatness and innovation.

    The emotional arcs of Up are very familiar, with all the characters learning life lessons, things getting worse before they get better and everything ending on a happy note. At times the relationship between Carl and Russell feels a little too rote, with the film resorting to outlandish or goofy sections to keep up the pace (more on those in a second). There is a lack of cynicism to their relationship which lifts it above more sub-standard animations, but considering the talent on offer at PIXAR there is the nagging feeling that they could have come up with something more original.

    The other big problem with Up is that it retreats all too readily into a kind of outlandish goofiness, in a manner which undermines the feeling of confidence in the central relationship. The film may be playing to a younger audience, being rated U where Toy Story was a PG, but the question remains: why do we need all the ephemeral stuff if the central relationship is perfectly good? The introduction of Kevin and Dug, while perfectly good fun, is a sign of Docter trying too hard to be cute. This becomes more of a problem when it affects the continuity, with Carl going from a frail old man to all-out action hero just to satisfy the needs of a set-piece.

    Ultimately, the film gets away with its slightly histrionic sections on the strength of the performances and our resulting attachment to the characters. Edward Asner based his performance on the later roles of Spencer Tracy, and he succeeds in creating a curmudgeon that we genuinely love and care about. Jordan Nagai is a very good find as Russell, staying just the right side of talkative to be endearing rather than annoying. And Christopher Plummer remains a reliable screen presence, working off Asner very well in the scenes around the table.

    Up is a very good addition to the PIXAR canon. While it never quite reaches the dizzy heights of Finding Nemo or WALL-E, it succeeds where Ratatouille failed in delivering a story for all ages and bringing out adult themes in a manner which children can appreciate. Docter directs very nicely, with excellent compositions and bright colours, and as a feel-good effort it works very well. For all its flaws and shortcomings, it's a genial and affecting film that should reward repeat viewing.
  • fb100001048934982
    April 14, 2012
    fb100001048934982
    'Up' proves to be an instant Pixar classic, full of delightful characters and touching emotion. There's nothing to complain about with the voice acting and the vivid animated landscape is amazing. This is an animated film everyone should see at least once.
  • fb1463751009
    March 9, 2012
    fb1463751009
    A sweet and character-driven movie. It has the comedy and the visuals to draw kids in, but has the emotional depth to keep adults entertained and emotionally connected and challenged.
  • fb1378820053
    March 6, 2012
    fb1378820053
    Nothing short of an animation masterpiece up there with pixar's finest works if not the best. Up is a perfect blend of humour, action and emotion. The characters and the voice-overs are brilliant, the animation is picturesque and beautiful. Animations don't come much better than ... read morethis!!
  • aquateen2
    February 20, 2012
    aquateen2
    This film can tell a story much better than Wall-E. Up goes into further emotional depth then any Pixar film to date. It's funny, it's charming and it is a beautiful piece of work that nearly anyone can enjoy.
  • rjayhutchinson
    February 8, 2012
    rjayhutchinson
    Certainly not the greatest thing Pixar has ever done, but "Up" is a fine, fine film nonetheless. Though the first twenty-five or so minutes are absolutely beautiful, when the house went "Up," my interest level went down. I just didn't find the actual intrigue of the plot all that... read more fascinating. However, after the climax occurs, the denouement finds once again the beauty the opening part of the film so wonderfully displayed. The Oscar-winning score of the film is also definitely worth a mention. Its captivating refrain is used perfectly in the various situations throughout the film; the music will stay with you for days.
  • thmtsang
    December 26, 2011
    thmtsang
    Carl and Ellie are best friends from childhood. They get married and move into a lovely house. The next part is sad. Many years pass after Ellie passes away and Carl is forced out of his home by developers, so he ties thousands of balloons to the house and sets off for Paradise F... read morealls in South America. There he meets his lifetime hero who is hunting a very rare bird. I love the characters - Russell (boy scout) and Doug (dog). Good plot, although sad in parts, it is funny and an uplifting movie.
  • skeletonking101
    December 22, 2011
    skeletonking101
    Pixar is one of the greatest animation companies of all time, and each of their films have redeeming features about them even if they aren't all that great, but to me, this is the weakest Pixar film. I liked it the first 3 times I saw it, but the more I watch it, the more things ... read moreI find that annoy me. Now I have A.D.D. so I have trouble sitting through some movies sometimes, and this film is one of those movies that I get so bored with, and after 20 minutes I put in a different movie. The main gripe I have with the film is that the beginning 15 minutes and the ending are so well done, that the film just goes downhill from there when it ends, another gripe I have is with the dog Dug, now I know everyone who reads this is gonna be like "Oh Dug is cute, Dug is funny." NO!!! He is annoying and not funny at all, he's stupid, and useless in this film, literally there is almost no purpose to him in the plot, aside from being an unfunny comic relief.
  • fb701560354
    November 27, 2011
    fb701560354
    Pixar never seems to fail to captivate audiences with relatable, humorous, and genuine characters, but they manage to once again with Up, an amazingly animated, voice-acted, and well-told adventure. It's exciting, hilarious, touching and heart-warming. The score by Michael Giac... read morechino is one of the best, and is definitely deserving of the Oscar.

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Critic Reviews

Tom Charity
July 6, 2010
Tom Charity, CNN.com

Funny and poignant and full of life, Up easily qualifies as one of the best movies of the year so far. Go with someone you care about. Full Review

David Denby
June 1, 2009
David Denby, New Yorker

The movie is packed with lovely jokes, some of them funny in inexplicable ways. Full Review

Ben Mankiewicz
June 1, 2009
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies

The key to Pixar's success has always been the perfect blend of heart and humor -- and they've certainly done it again here. Full Review

Ben Lyons
June 1, 2009
Ben Lyons, At the Movies

This is really special. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
May 29, 2009
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

An exquisite work of cinematic art that also happens to be the funniest, most touching, most exciting and most entertaining movie released so far this year. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
May 29, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Its charms appear to have been applied with surgical precision; by the end, I felt expertly sutured, but not much else. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
May 29, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

To watch Up with any attention is to be moved and astonished by the economy with which specific visuals are invested with emotion throughout. Full Review

Tom Long
May 29, 2009
Tom Long, Detroit News

There are not words enough to express how good Up is. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
May 29, 2009
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

The lessons of Up lift us, even as they ground our heroes in what really matters. Full Review

Tom Maurstad
May 29, 2009
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News

It propels the viewer up, up and away in an experience combining smart, imaginative storytelling with dazzling dreamlike visuals, creating an experience that is the special province of animation -- at...

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Facts

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    • Carl Fredricksen: So long, boys!
    • Carl Fredricksen: Gah.
    • Dug: Won't you please be my prisoner, please, please!
    • Russell: Please let me in, sir.
    • Carl Fredricksen: No. [shuts door]
    • Carl Fredricksen: [opens door] Oh, alright.
    • Carl Fredricksen: Tell your boss he can *have* my house.
    • Construction Foreman Tom: Really?
    • Carl Fredricksen: Yeah. When I'm dead!
    • Russell: With this we'll never be lost! [falls out the window]
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  • Which child from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory gets sucked up a pipe after falling into the chocolate river?   Answer »
  • In "Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events", what does Count Olaf say to Sunny when she looks up at him and makes baby noises?  Answer »
  • Which word can make up the three following movies when entered in the blanks? 1. _______ 2. _______ Daddy 3. _______ Trouble in Little China   Answer »
  • What word will fit in the blanks to make up the titles of five movies?.... 1. _______ 2. _______ Ship 3. _______ Rig 4. _______ Dad 5. _______Busters  Answer »
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