UP: Taking Animated Movies To New Heights

As soon as I saw the first preview for Up I knew I had the title for my review. (If it was good I'd call it something like Up Rises To New Heights: if it was bad the title would be something like Up Never Gets Off The Ground. Either way I knew I'd be using 99 Luftbalons as the fractal for the post. (There simply isn't a better image for a story about a man who uses balloons to fly his house off on a truly epic adventure.)
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Pixar has raised the bar yet again for animated movies with their latest offering Up. No, it wasn't the fact that this was the first 3D film from the company (Robyn and I weren't willing to pay an additional ten bucks for the privilege of wearing those uncomfortable plastic glasses for two hours) it was simply the overall quality of everything that made up the whole show.
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Top-flight animation is a given with a Pixar release and this movie didn't disappoint. Somehow the artists managed to avoid the walking wax-doll human figures common in most computer-animated efforts (an achievement that makes the movie almost worth seeing for its own sake) but the whole movie is so wonderfully drawn that it's a constant delight to the eye. First class acting talent like Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer lend their voices to the movie and it simply wouldn't be a Pixar release without John Ratzenberger (playing a rather small role this time). What raises this movie to the next level is the direction and writing.
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I saw an interview with co-Director Pete Docter who said writing the movie took over three years and it shows. Elements of the fantastic and mundane blend seamlessly: the tone alternates from sweet sadness to high comedy and neither seems the least bit forced. The wild ramblings of "dog" (voiced by Writer and co-Director Bob Petersen) are a hoot (and about what you'd imagine you'd hear if dogs really could talk!) The directing is subtle and never overdone: there's a wordless sequence (running over five minutes) telling the life and love story of "Carl" and "Ellie" that's not simply one of the best montages in animated film but in ANY film. (Even a hard-bitten old critic lime me got a bit misty-eyed: you'd have to be totally heartless or under ten NOT to be affected!)
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You don't have to see this movie on a big screen to appreciate it's qualities (but it wouldn't hurt). Being under the Disney flag you know it'll be family friendly (and safe for even the youngest viewers) but adults will find plenty to enjoy here as well. Take your kids AND your parents to see this: you'll all have a good time.
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FINAL GRADE: A+