Up

Pixar is notorious for their sentimentality and for movies in which characters encounter some unexpected change and must adapt by embracing the truly meaningful things that life has to offer which are usually friendship, family, or love. This combined with incomparable storytelling is what makes them the best at what they do. What they do is very specific and unique to them, and it’s absolutely wonderful. It is the simplicity of their films which makes them brilliant. The latest film from the Pixar factory, “Up,” is no different.

“Up” is the story of a man, Carl, and his wife, Ellie, who met and fell in love over their fondness for adventure but postponed all their childhood dreams to deal with the occurrences of everyday life. When Ellie passes, the now elderly Carl is in danger of losing his home, so he decides its time to finally try and fulfill Ellie’s dream of going to South America. He lifts his whole house off the ground with what is presumably millions of small balloons, not realizing that a young boy scout has tagged along for the ride. What follows is an adventure that brings the two closer together and melts away Carl’s curmudgeonly exterior. The film is very profound in its themes of appreciating the time that you have on this earth and of not taking for granted the relationships in your life.

This may be the most beautiful and whimsical of all of the Pixar films. It is touching and sad at times, and exciting and full of suspense at others, not to mention it is also funny. It is as expected, a simple story told beautifully. Pixar has a knack for movies that transcend the age of the viewer; the family movie is a genre which is mostly fraught with mediocrity and banality. Pixar’s films are usually great experiences no matter what your age, and this film is no exception. If you’ve ever thought that your life was dull and are afraid it will pass you by before you get a chance to live it, this film is for you. If you have children who like bright colors and stories full of adventure, this is also the film for you. Stop whatever it is you are doing right now, and go see “Up.” On a technical note, this film is also being shown in 3D; a trick that Hollywood has embraced lately with nauseating results. However, the 3D in “Up” is perfect and spectacular, and no matter how you shift in your chair you will never experience anything but an amazing film.