DVD Review: UP

UP is another example of Pixar coming up with an interesting and imaginatively fun film. An old man (Carl Fredicksen)) who once dreamed of going to South America with his wife Ellie (until she passed away) decides to attach thousands of balloons to his house and fly his house to South America after an altercation with a construction worker. He decides to go on an adventure instead of a trip to the retirement home. Russell, a young Wilderness Explorer, hitches along for the ride. He and Russell come across Muntz, the explorer that Carl and Ellie idolized. Muntz is obsessed with a rare bird. He has a pack of dogs who can speak English with the help of translator collars. Dug, a dog looking for a new master, becomes attached to Carl and Russell. UP is the adventure that Carl, Russell, and Dug take while trying to save the rare bird the boy names Kevin.

UP is a piece of imaginative genius. It is a family film that all ages will love. I love the dog named Alpha who has a helium sounding voice due to a faulty translator collar. UP made me laugh, smile and be enthralled by the adventure (and imagination at work). The montage of Carl and Ellie's life is one of the highlights of the film. Edward Asner does a fantastic voice acting job as the grumpy old man Carl and Christopher Plummer also brings real emotion to the tragic Muntz. I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel to UP.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Audio commentary for the film with Director Peter Docter and Co-Director Bob Peterson

ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE- the animators visit the real flattop mountains (in South America) that they used in the animated film. It is an adventure they went through to get pictures and sketches. Definitely, a good featurette to watch.

PARTLY CLOUDY is an amusing animated short, but THE MISADVENTURES OF DUG- DUG’S SPECIAL MISSION is a treat that expands into the back story of Dug. THE MANY ENDINGS OF MUNTZ show how Muntz could have died or ended his story, but the animators felt that they took away from Carl’s story. Stil lthey provide more interesting ends for Muntz than what is show in the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: UP is another fun and creative animated film from Pixar. Be sure to check out ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE and DUG’S SPECIAL MISSION.