Up

If one needed proof that Pixar was the best at what they do -- "Up" would be an excellent place to start. It is one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. Pixar simply does 3-D animation better than anyone. But as advanced as they are technologically, that is only a small part of the film's brilliance. Pixar just does it right. They tell real stories with real heart. The characters are fully fleshed out and voiced beautifully. The audience cares about the characters and Pixar does not simply depend on celebrity voices to keep the audience interested.

"Up" is the heartwarming story of a widower, Carl (voiced magnificently by Ed Asner), who after losing his wife watches his neighborhood swallowed up by high-rise development. He is pressured by the developers to sell but he is resolute. The home means everything to him and in a touching and heart-breaking intro to the story, we know why. A lifetime of love and loss had blossomed there and he won't let go. In a moment of anger, however, he acts out violently, a mistake that changes everything. He will be sent to a retirement home and thus lose his precious home.

So he takes action and embarks on an adventure long-since promised and abandoned. He attaches thousands of helium balloons to his house and flies off toward South America. Unfortunately, (or fortunately as the story shows) he is not alone. Russell (Jordan Nagai), an over-eager scout has accidentally gone along for the ride in his misguided attempt to earn a badge for helping the elderly. They fly up, up and away, and then down, down, down -- frustratingly short of the waterfalls he fought so hard to reach. As they try to carry the home to his destination, they embark on an adventure involving talking dogs, a former hero, and a seemingly extinct bird. More than that, however, they learn about and from each other.

The message of this film is uplifting without ever being sappy. I cried all three times I saw the film (once in the theater and twice on DVD). Life's adventures don't just take place in the wild or someplace "out there". They take place everyday as we live our lives -- building a home, a family, working a job. The message is that life itself is the adventure and it is beautiful.

Now that I've told you how much I love I loved the film, you might be wondering about the kiddos. My son adored it at the theater and at home -- hardly moved. My daughter did okay at the theater (and she was just over 2!) and loves it on DVD. So I rank it high on that front.

It is rated PG due to "Some peril and action" but neither of my children expressed any fear at all.

So I would give this DVD a "Stay up" (no pun intended!) -- in other words, watch it if you don't have kids or a "Settle In" -- stay and watch it if you do.

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