Do we really have to add spoiler text? I really don’t want to keep doing that…isn’t it kind of given that the reviews will have spoilers?
Anyhow, here’s my review from Up Forum:
Where to begin with this one? I mean, this film isn’t just the uppity adventure with giggles and cute little characters that the trailers presented it as. This film, I daresay, is Pixar’s pinnacle feature; it is a true testament to what they are, what they do, and what they stand for. It treads all areas of the film genre, from raucous comedy to poignant tragedy. It strikes right at the heart again and again, in ways both subtle and strong.
Let’s start with the characters, because after all, a movie’s nothing without solid characters. And boy, does this one provide a real eclectic mix. Our protagonist, Carl, is a real departure from the typical Pixarian hero. Not simply by age, but temperament. He’s not a young, idealistic figure like Flik or Wall-E, but neither is he the egoistic, almost cruel sort like McQueen (don’t get me wrong here; I love McQueen. He was a great departure from the Pixarian formula). Carl is a man who is embittered by the unfairness of the world. Life has taken everything from him: his dear wife, his dreams of adventure, and soon his home.
Now, my biggest problem in movies is something I like to call “The Quick Fix”. This is what happens when a character who has acted wrongly for almost an entirely feature suddenly is “better”. They see the error of their ways in a big flash of light and all’s well and good. I’m happy to report this turn-around did not happen so abruptly with our hero. You can tell, just watching the film, his experiences with Russell slowly change him. He awakens to his boyish sense of adventure over time and even after the full turn-around, he’s not “all better”. He’s still hindered by his age. And this pleased me greatly. If there was any complaint I had with Carl, it was that the [spoil]“You’re my dog, and I’m your master!”[/spoil] line felt awkward. But that’s just me. Other than that, he was a powerful driving force for the film. The moment where he breaks down into a fit of rage and growls, “I didn’t want this!”, to me, is his best. It proves he is as prone to fallibility as anyone. He may be “the hero”, but he’s not perfect.
And then, of course, we have his right hand boyscout, Russell! Russell didn’t jump out at me upon first viewing the trailers. He seemed quirky, cute, and goofy, but I wrote him off as comedy relief and not much more. But as more clips were released, he grew on me in a “cute puppy” sort of way. But just like Carl, he wasn’t as simple as that. He’s a boy who’s dealing with something that, sadly, too many kids these days are dealing with:[spoil] the unfairness of divorce[/spoil]. But instead of being angry and estranged like most characters in this position I see in films, he is hopeful. All he wants is his father’s approval, which is something I definitely could relate to. His small speeches about his father were brilliant, because they were things a child would say. They were genuine and powerful in their simplicity.
I was actually rather annoyed with Dug and Kevin upon walking in the theater. I disliked their excessive popularity, because it felt like the attention Dory earned: they were liked because they were funny, and not much more (again, please note I love Dory…just for more reasons than her humor). I was again proven wrong. Dug’s role as the submissive, quavering underdog wishing only for love fit perfectly with the desire to connect felt by Russell and, deny it as he may, Carl. A[spoil]nd the mother thing with Kevin melted me[/spoil]. So, while I still think they’re a bit over-hyped, I do respect them a bit more as characters. Dug especially.
Muntz was an admirable villain. Upon first seeing the film, I was sort of in-between on Muntz. He seemed so…secondary. And typical. But when I saw it again, I realized he was a deeply intriguing character. For so long he’d been out casted, lied to, and cheated, he simply abandoned decency. He, like Carl, was victim to the cruelty of the world and learned to cope by sealing himself away. Actually, thinking about it now, there was a nice parallel between the Spirit of Adventure and “Ellie”: both were crammed full of memories, made into monuments about better days. [spoil]Unlike Carl, however, Muntz never learns to let go of the bitterness and, in the end, cannot fly like Carl could after lightening his burden.[/spoil]
Visually, this film was pure eye candy. Everything, from the lush landscapes to the dirty details of human faces, was artistry of the highest caliber. One of the most beautiful moments in the famous introductory cinematic is the simple kiss Carl gives to his wife on her deathbed. It isn’t passionate or desperate, but a quiet, gentle declaration of love that shows the audience how deeply Carl’s love for Ellie ran. The close attention to facial and bodily expression came across beautifully here. I mean, look at these characters: compare Carl’s mussy, stubbled visage to the plastic looking Cid of Toy Story or the clear hair and texture visible on Russell’s face when he first finds Kevin to something like The Incredibles. The CGI art form has come quite a long way. While this film maintains a fantastic feel, its attention to detail was truly stunning.
I’d hate to label this film as a comedy. It had such a command of emotion that flowed so naturally, it didn’t feel weird to be bawling one moment, then guffawing the next. There didn’t need to be fancy speeches to make an impact. The simplest exchanges said in the gentlest of voices hit just as hard as the more active moments.
This film did have flaws, but in all, its triumphs overcame those flaws. Up is a powerhouse performance and one I hope to enjoy as many times as I can while it’s in theaters. Nothing compares to that gorgeous surround sound and the satisfaction of the audience around you held captive by the same riveting film.
I rate it as such:
Characters - 9/10. There are few characters to claim the spotlight, but those that do shine. Carl, Russell, and even Dug feel complete by the story’s end. The dog pack was sort of an annoyance to me, though.
Story - 10/10. It was original, compelling, and tear-jerking, and kept me engaged the whole time.
Score - 8/10. The score wasn’t incredible–WALL-E’s score is still the best–but it still managed to have a great orchestral sound throughout.
Humor - 9/10. There were some truly drop-dead funny jokes that, like the film as a whole, branched out in all areas of comedy. Even Carl imagining the accidental death of Russell manages to merit a chortle.
Overall - 10/10. There’s honestly not much I can think of I’d want to change in this movie. Way to go, Pete Doctor and all involved!
SQUIRREL! Oh and the music! During the movie, I was super impressed! The score was absolutely beautiful with its continuous themes and all of their different variations throughout certain plot points. I loved it. When I saw Michael Giacchino’s name in the credits, I was like, NO WONDER! haha. The music made the sad parts significantly more touching and the adventures parts significantly more exciting.