I had wanted to see the animated feature Up before the Oscars this year, but didn't manage to squeeze it in before the telecast. This week when I received the film from Netflix I couldn't wait to watch it.
For me, the best part of the film is the opening 15 minutes, which tells the love story of Carl and Ellie. Bonded by their love for exploration, they live a long, happy life together in their technicolor dream house.
After Ellie's death, Carl decides to up root their home (which is surrounded by construction for a new housing development) and navigate the house to Paradise Falls, their dream destination. Just before he leaves he meets Russell, a young, adorably awkward wilderness scout looking to earn his "assisting the elderly" merit badge.
Russell is positively hysterical and after the love story, is the best part of this movie. He warms that heart of Carl the curmudgeon, which is no easy task.
Although I felt the film took a turn toward strangeville mid-way through, the touching and poignant love story at the start was enough for me to forgive anything that came after.
Up is only 90 minutes and is visually stunning. Its wonderful to imagine a world where your house can float to far away places with just a few hundred helium balloons.
Let Up take you to a place where love is true and anything is possible.
