UP; simple enough

What else can be said about Pixar? They are the first production company that I will go see there movies just based on the fact they are making it. I usually allocate this distinction to great directors and some actors. They simply just don't make bad movies and UP is no exception. It is the funniest of all the Pixar films, but not the most engrossing. 

The action follows Carl Fredrickson (Edward Asner) as he embarks on a journey to South America to place his house at the sacred paradise falls where he had once at a young age promised his future wife that they would have an adventure there. We have all seen the posters, so we know he gets there by using balloons that carry his house and an unexpected guest the length of the trip. 

The plot is set up for an unusual friendship to bloom between a boy-scout named Russell and Carl, and like all great Pixar movies the characters and relationship feels real. The advantage animation has over live action is it's ability for its characters to overemphasis emotions without it feeling false or contrived. That allows the audience to feel exactly as the filmmakers intended without being manipulated. UP is masterful at this technique and despite the looseness of the story or the contrivances of issues like Russell's father, we feel for and are with the characters, whether they be dog's or big birds.

What I think this film does especially well is in its dealing with the heavy subject of aging and failed expectations. Some people may say those particular themes are to heavy handed for children, but I disagree and think they are presented perfectly.

What it doesn't do well is to create exterior conflicts with the villain. Pixar has yet to make a great villain an here they don't even come close. I found nothing "wrong" with him, yet at the same time there was nothing memorable and his motivations seemed false. The story could have been better served without the villain and instead should have stuck with both Carl and Russell's internal conflicts. 

UP has its shortcomings and it certainly isn't as good as last years Wall E, but I would rank it the fifth best Pixar film and that is saying a lot. 

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