UP: Movie review

We took Hannah to see Up today. All I can say about it is that everything you might have read about it is true: it’s just wonderful! Dad and I agreed it’s pretty deep for an animated movie – no pun intended, but the characters really have a lot of dimension. They’re not just one-note cartoon characters…they have flaws and issues. It’s the most grown-up of the Pixar movies, I think. It’s also a very sweet, but sad and emotional too. The genius of it is that all the sad, emotional stuff sailed right over Hannah’s head – I was sitting there crying, but she was just happy to be eating popcorn. I’m telling you, the people who made this movie are brilliant.

Anyway, you’ve probably read that the story centers around an old guy named Carl, who’s recently lost the love of his life, Ellie, after probably 50 years of marriage. If you cry at movies (like I do), bring tissue because the montage of their life together will have you crying within the first 15 minutes. (And you’ll cry at least two other times before the movie is over.) They always wanted to go on a grand adventure, but they never got the chance to do it. At the same time, evil developers (dudes in suits) are trying to force Carl out of his and Ellie’s house so they can tear it down and put up high-rise buildings. He refuses, ties a bunch of balloons to the thing and floats…UP…away to have the adventure he and Ellie never had. Carl gets an unintended traveling companion in Russell, a round little kid who happens to be standing on the porch at the wrong time. All of this exposition meant nothing to Hannah, who just laughed and laughed when the balloons went up.

Dad and I both loved this movie – it’s that great movie that works for grown-ups and kids. It is rated PG, and there were a couple of sort-of-scary parts for very little kids. Hannah didn’t like the scene with the thunderstorm, but it didn’t seem to leave a lasting effect. She said she really liked the movie.

So…here’s her synopsis, completely not in chronological order:

“He tied a bunch of balloons to his house! There were lots of bad dogs who tried to get the good dog. The bad dogs flew in planes to try to get the good dog. There was a big bird! The guy flew his house!”

I think you could take any kid over the age of 4 to this movie…and you should, because it’s terrific.

Mom