Pete Docter and Bob Peterson's Up (2009)

Pixar strikes again. I'll take the suspense out of it -- Up is the best movie of 2009 thus far. Pete Docter and Bob Peterson have crafted a funny, moving, and poignant film filled with genuine excitement and characters that you will absolutely fall in love with. This is a very unconventional story that never once wobbles under the weight of such a bizarre and wondrous premise. Indeed, Up is a wonderful example of classic storytelling fused with the new and exciting.

The film begins with a breathtaking sequence detailing how two young children with a shared love for adventure meet. We see them fall in love and get married. We see them experience all that comes with a shared life together, both the good and the bad. We see them grow old together and as this bravura sequence comes to a close, we see one of them succumb to old age. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking way to start the film and guarantees that the audience Will be totally emotionally invested in what's to come. When the time comes for Carl Fredricksen, wonderfully brought to life by Ed Asner, to set sail in his balloon-powered home it is all too easy to empathize with the seemingly crotchety old man. This is emotional storytelling at it's best. The fact that such emotion can be so perfectly conveyed by computer animation is not surprising, given Pixar's other recent films, but it should still be celebrated.

I viewed Up in 3D and the effect was astounding. The depth of field, vibrant colors, and lush jungle setting all help to contribute to the film's stunning visual look. That said, if you don't get the chance to see Up in 3D, don't fret, as it will still look fantastic. It's quite refreshing to see an animated movie with elderly folks as both protagonist and antagonist. This is still a film aimed partly at children and Carl does share the screen with Russell, an excitable young boy scout. However, in a nice change of pace, young Russell isn't smarter than his geriatric counterparts, and nor should he be. The three human characters also share the screen with the oddly-named Kevin, the elusive giant bird which the deranged Charles Muntz has chased for so many years. Muntz employs a host of talking dogs in his hunt for the exotic bird. One dog stands above the rest, although not literally, and his name is Dug. Dug is an amazing creation which you will instantly fall in love with and it doesn't hurt that he's the source of many of Up's funniest moments.

Last year brought us Wall-E, which tackled such weighty issues as environmentalism and the human race's increasingly selfish and sloven behaviour, and Up handles a different set of equally adult themes. Up covers such themes as growing old, lost love, and accepting death, with an uncommon amount of grace and candor while still remaining very kid-friendly. Up is nothing less than a classic film which may stand the test of time better than any Pixar film, Wall-E included. Those who look at Up and dismiss it as just another animated kids movie are missing one of the most heartfelt, touching, humorous, and exciting films of the past several years. 5 out of 5 stars.