Blog Post (Movie Up)
Disney has continuously produced some of the greatest iconic movies in the modern era of animated films; one of which being my personal favorite, Up. The film takes us through the unsuspected journey of an old man, once inspired by exploration, and a young boy scout, eager to please and discover new things. What makes the film so great is its ability to provide an in-depth backstory that sympathizes with the viewer’s personal sadness throughout the film, and then transitioning to a feel-good comedy and being able to create a memorable impact.
Director, Pete Docter, opens the film by immediately pulling in movie-goers with a backstory that brings most to tears. He begins with a flashback of old man, Carl Fredricksen, as a young boy. Carl is fascinated by adventure and an exotic land called Paradise Falls. Docter captures the viewers’ attention by introducing a young girl, Ellie, who is also a wanna-be explorer and who would soon become Carl’s wife. The director tells the story of their lives all in the opening scenes, in which they attempt to save up to travel to the land they dreamed of going together. Suddenly Ellie becomes very sick and passes away, leaving the entire audience in shock. This then sets the opening plot of what will become a depressingly humorous story of an old man and a young boy that travel in a house suspended by hundreds of balloons.
Carl becomes sheltered in the home that he imagined him and Ellie growing old in. As everything else around him have been moving towards the future, including building complexes that want his land, Carl refuses to change. One day Russell, a local boy scout, knocks on his door asking if he could help him in order to mark off a requirement for a merit badge. Carl refuses to help and shuts out Russell and goes on with his day. Facing eviction and a nursing home, Carl takes off into the sky by using balloons to carry his house, headed for Paradise Falls. What he didn’t know was Russell came back to ask again and happened to be on the porch when the house took off, and that he was shockingly now a part of the elusive journey to Paradise Falls.
Throughout the film the writers have introduced characters that are not only unique, but also unforgettable. Russell and Carl’s relationship grows as Russell’s charming remarks open up the old man. Along their way they meet Kevin, a bird being hunted by poachers, but he cannot talk. They also meet an animal that can talk named Dug, a hilarious dog that is easily distracted. These characters are truly one of a kind, all adding the movie itself.
The creators of this Disney film have seamlessly introduced memorable characters with a hilarious, creative driving plot, making Up a great example of modern day art.
