Up a Review

Up (Some thoughts I had seeing it in the theater upon its release in 3D…)

I knew going in that this theater experience wasn't optimal. I was hoping a whole summer school class from Gemini elementary wasn't going to be there, but darn the luck, they were. I knew that it would be pretty full, though without them, there would have only been like ten of us there for the show. For being kids, they weren't that bad, and I sat a few rows behind them. I didn't know what to expect from the 3D, and I’m glad to say it's not all about pies and rocks and sticks and things flying at your face any more. It still suffers from being dim and a bit jittery through fast movement, but all in all, it was done with taste and used mostly to show depth and to highlight rather than to have a ton of effects.

The opening short film, Partly Cloudy was brilliant. (at the time…sure—Eddie) Of all the shorts, this one was hands down masterful. That adds a star to whatever you might think of Up all by itself.

The movie itself was good but odd. As with Wall-E, it is clear that half of Pixar wants to grow up and the other half of Pixar wants to stay Toy Story. The set up of the first twenty minutes, as with Wall-E is one type of film. Lyrical, well done, minimal dialog, beautiful animation that puts to shame, oh say the entire output of any other animation studio this year and last combined. It a dark story. It's not really a kids story to start. It's spans a lifetime and includes what could actually be a miscarriage and a spot of blood - heretofore unseen in a Pixar film. It's PG... that's why. The kids are not going to be thrilled with that, but hey, I'm not a kid so take a hike toddlers. Go watch iCarly or whatever the hell it is you watch these days.

The second part is where we introduce the kid fare in the form of a wayward balloon house and a Wilderness Explorer named Russell. I like Russell. I like the house. I like the idea of Russell and the old man and the house having adventures. That should have been the entire film - Russell, the old dude and the flying house - what’s not to love there? We get a little bit of that, but all too soon we get the funny animals. The funny animals jump the shark—several times. Dug the dog is funny, but a whole pack of them showing up got old fast. The were each strapped with the technology of a "translating collar" which was funny on Dug, but not a whole pack. They didn't really think it out and put it to good use. It was to make kids finally have something to laugh at. The bird character when it showed up was okay, turning out to be the victim that needed rescuing from the villain. Once they got chasing the villain and used the house more, it rocked fairly solidly to the end.

A few holes, but it's Pixar. Russell's stepmom was probably wondering where the hell he was for what? a week? He goes out to work on a 'wilderness' scout badge to help the old man and disappears? Yikes. They also let on that not only is his guardian just his stepmom, but that the dad doesn't have much time to spend with him anymore. What the hell? Parents just get kicked in the crotch by Disney. This time there is no biological mom and the dad just doesn't 'have time for him'. He's left with his stepmom. Wow. Talk about your cesspool of angst. What's that story all about? Of course he latches onto the old man. When that old man dies, which won't be long, what's he gonna think then. This kid is in for some serious therapy later.

Did I like it? The animation, sure, amazing. I think it might be better without the 3D. (2D in 4K is superior… just saying—Eddie) I think the projection of the image would be bigger and brighter in 2D and you wouldn't really lose anything. Though, really, as I said, this puts the other animation houses right in the dirt. The story was a B+. If it had just been the old man, russell and the house flying into adventures, that would have been fine by me. I think the goofball stuff was shoveled in to make sure the little ones didn't fall asleep. I think Pixar might have to think about splitting into two production companies and make films for different audiences. I think Up might be better than Wall-E, though it's hard to top the first twenty minutes of Wall-E. Once I see it again on DVD, I might have a different opinion. Worth seeing at the theater? Yes, but the kiddies in the theater will repeatedly take you out of the experience, so you take your chances on how involved you will be.