“UP” the DVD: a review

One of the fun perks of this blog is that I get advance copies of DVD’s to review.

My fellow film critic, Damon, age 9, and I reviewed “UP” the DVD which will be available for sale today (Tuesday). “UP” is the 10th feature length film by Pixar.

We both gave it an A, two thumbs up and all the stars we could find.

Pixar continues to delight audiences and critics with simple, engaging stories and breathtaking art and special effects.

The unlikely central character of this video is a grouchy 78-year-old retired balloon salesman, Carl Fredericksen, who is living out a lonely life in his home, as progress and high rise buildings are going up all around him.

The video starts when the very young Carl meets Ellie, a spirited girl who will become the love of his life. In a short interlude, we see them grow up, get married and grow old together, all the while dreaming of going off on a great adventure to South America. But time passes, life happens, and sadly Ellie dies before they can have their adventure.

Carl retreats to his house and memories of Ellie until the world will no longer allow him to keep his privacy and independence.

Then Carl comes up with the perfect plan to preserve his house and go off on his grand adventure. He rigs thousands of helium balloons to his house and lifts off. He has even devised a way of steering it.

But what Carl doesn’t know is that Russell, a would-be helpful, but mostly pesky, 8-year-old Boy Scout, was on the porch when the house lifted off. With no way of letting Russell down, the odd couple travel to South America together.

What follows is a lot of action, comedy, pathos, a villain, an exotic bird, a dog guard pack, several plot twists and a cute friendly dog named Dug, who deserves (and gets) a feature of his own.

Through their adventures, without heavy handed moralizing by the filmmakers, Carl and Russell develop an unlikely friendship as they find out together what is important in life.

If you think you might feel self conscious watching an animated film with no child in the room, you need to know that “UP” was the movie that opened the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Pixar studios has won twenty-two Academy Awards.

“UP” the video is now available at wherever you buy videos.

Comments

[Khyra]

Dearest Misty -

Woo need to snag some pikhs of these movie khritikhs in akhtion!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: SKHWIRRELS!!!

[Jack Kramer]

I loved the movie and I'm a middle aged man with no children to watch it with me. I will definitely buy the DVD and for snobs who think Pixar is only for children. You are just stupid.

[Dennis the Vizsla]

"Up" was a fun movie. People kept telling me they thought Dug and the other dogs seemed like characters out of Dennis's blog!

[jackie]

I've heard it was really a great movie..can't wait..

[cube]

I've heard good reviews from this movie, but it just isn't something I'd go out of my way to watch. My sister found out I had never seen "Norbert" while we were at my niece's recent birthday party and she (my sister) insisted that we watch it it. Like I said, not bad, but a movie I wouldn't go out of my way to watch. Hmmmm, maybe my sister will hijack me & make me watch "Up" ;-)

[Fuzzy Logic]

Honestly I didn't like it. I didn't find anything endearing about it. Usually I love Pixar, but something about the way the dogs were portrayed really rubbed me the wrong way. I saw it in the theatre I almost left. There aren't many movies that I'll say that about.

[Clive]

We absolutely loved it! Murray and Clive both!! Murray can't stop talking about it - we have got the books to go with the DVD and are now waiting for the DVD release over here! All the family thoroughly enjoyed it - UP and Fantastic Mr Fox are our top two films at the moment!

[Serendipity]

Sounds like a fun movie although the storyline seems predictable.

[Col]

I need to buy this one. :-)

[Lindsay]

This movie never interested me, but I've heard good reviews about it so I'll have to rent it over Thanksgiving. I'm glad it has a dog!