As you all know, the Oscars are coming up on Sunday, March 7th. This is what I call “cram” time. It’s a chance to cram in all of the movies you haven’t already seen that are up for any kind of Oscar nomination (best picture, best actor, best director, you get the drift). While I can’t obviously see them all, I can certainly try!
This past weekend we rented UP from Netflix. This movie didn’t really appeal to me when I saw previews for it originally (I didn’t really understand what it was about). However, after hearing numerous people rave about it and then watching it receive accolades at the Golden Globe and an Oscar nod in the best picture category, it became a must see.
Up is the story of Carl Fredericksen. It starts out with him as a shy child, his adoration for the explorer Charles F. Muntz and how he in turn befriends Ellie, another neighborhood child and admirer of Charles F. Muntz. Ellie shows Carl her “Adventure Book” and tells him that eventually she’s going to go to South America where Charles F. Muntz has explored and she’s going to have all kinds of adventures while there. The first 30 minutes of this film had me smiling, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, my heart broke and I cried. Thank god I was watching this in the comfort of my own living room. I don’t want to give it all away through.
Eventually as an elderly gentleman Carl is approached by a Wilderness boy Russell who needs his last Wilderness Boy Badge in assisting the elderly. His home sits on a plot of land that developers desparately want and so Carl transforms his house into a hot air balloon with the intention of going to South America, where Charles F. Muntz explored. Russell accidentally ends up on board for the journey and when they get to South America Carl is torn between doing what he knows is right and finishing the “mission” he had originally set out for. Russell and Carl form an unlikely friendship.
Like all Pixar/Disney movies, this animated film, has an underlying “moral to the story” for kids to take away. However, I really felt this animated movie was more geared towards adults, in the sense that there was more for an adult to take away from this film than a child. For example, love is a powerful thing, and life isn’t about accomplishing all of your dreams and checking things off your list, it’s OK if somethings go undone. What’s more important is that if you are fortunate enough to have a partner to share your life with you enjoy the time you have together and instead of regreting or thinking what you could have done you realize that all the little things (holding hands, laughing together, date nights, etc) really are pretty beautiful and special so make time for them.
In addition, getting caught up in what was, to the point where you cannot live in the present isn’t healthy. Sometimes you have to let go of what you want the most in order to do the right thing for others, even if it means that you have to sacrifice what you wanted. This is a hard lesson for adults to learn just as much as kids.
I thought this movie was precious and sweet and I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I didn’t think the middle was nearly as good as the beginning or the end for that matter, but overall the first 30 minutes really sold the story for me, so it didn’t matter after that. I would definitely recommend this as a short, sweet movie, that most will probably enjoy!
4 Stars
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What did you think of UP? What’s your favorite animated movie?
