3D Up (2009); animated family adventure comedy

Poster artwork for the adventure comedy family animated film Up.

Hitting Humourous Heights by Linh

When life gets you down, you get yourself up. That’s exactly what retired 78 year old former balloon salesman Carl Frederickson does in Disney and Pixar’s latest collaboration Up.

Following the passing of his beloved wife and childhood sweetheart Ellie, Carl was to be taken into a retirement home, but he decides to fulfill a promise he made to Ellie.

They were going to find Paradise Falls together in South America and place their house on the edge of the falls, just as Ellie had drawn in her Adventure Book when she was a teenager.

HIGH FLYERS: Russell comes along for the adventure of his life unbeknownst to Carl in the film Up. Image: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios.

Carl’s adventure to ‘the land lost in time’ begins when he ties thousands of coloured balloons to his fireplace leading out through his chimney, which lifts his entire house up into the air.

He is joined by an optimistic and excitable young Wilderness Explorer scout named Russell, they discover a rare giant rainbow bird which Russell calls Kevin, and befriends an affectionate golden retriever named Dug.

The talented vocal cast keeps the film engaging with Edward Asner giving Carl the ‘grumpy old man’ humour; Pixar’s first Asian-American character, Russell, is voiced by Japanese actor Jordan Nagai, who displays enough innocence, pluckiness and energy to make his character affable; Christopher Plummer convinces with his charm to provoke ambiguity in Muntz; writer and co-director Bob Peterson provides Dug the dog with the goofiness to delight and endear him to audiences.

ADVENTURE AWAITS: Carl, Russell and Dug attempt to save Kevin from the nasty Muntz in the film Up. Image: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios.

Up is one of Disney/Pixar’s best animated features, and possesses a maturity in narrative and characterisation not fully developed or seen in their previous animated films.

Up draws in the audience with action motivated by emotions and suspense created from the sense of danger the characters face.

A few times during Up, the viewer is drawn into believing things are going well for the characters until something quite dramatic and emotionally-charged causes abrupt shifts in the situation. This is a wonderful change compared to other animated films that are superficially emotive or add superfluous tactics that make the film drag in parts.

There are plenty of symbolisms and metaphors to be found throughout Up, including the coloured balloons that are tied to Carl’s coloured house which in a way resembles Kevin; the numerous dogs controlled by Charles Muntz seems to represent the relationship between man and his best friend – the dog; the name Paradise Falls and the place itself, is where one seeks to fulfil a dream but it comes crashing down, just as Muntz’s pursuit of rare and exotic flora and fauna led to his downfall.

WILDERNESS WRECKER: Charles Muntz will stop at nothing until he captures Kevin in the film Up. Image: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios.

As with the usual Disney family films, Up does carry messages for children and adults including helping and respecting senior citizens; saving and protecting endangered species; and one can fulfill a dream at any age.    

My only gripe is the 3D presentation. Only one third, maybe a bit less, of the ninety-six minute film is actually in 3D, so the amount of 3D technology shown in the film falls short of its mark.

Watching the film again in regular format was no different to the hyped-up 3D version. The standard 2D format is equally enthralling and still looks amazing. Up is entirely entertaining and immensely impressive, and won Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Achievement in Music.

EXTREME ALTITUDES: Dug, Carl and Russell head for home after a life-changing adventure in the film Up. Image: Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios. 

Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson

Writers: Bob Peterson (screenplay and story), Pete Docter (screenplay and story), Tom McCarthy (story)

Voice Cast: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, John Ratzenberger, Elie Docter, Jeremy Leary, Pete Docter, Jerome Ranft, Josh Colley, David Kaye, Danny Mann

Original Music Composer: Michael Giacchino

Film Editor: Kevin Nolting

Production Designer: Ricky Nierva

Running Time: 1 hour and 36 minutes.