Director: Pete Doctor
Up is the latest in a long string of exceptional Pixar animated films. Directed by Pete Doctor 's co-writer of "Monsters, Inc.," "WALL-E" and "Toy Story" 's "Up" is an intriguing and fast paced animated comedy that explores the story of a reclusive old man's quest to fly his house to a waterfall in Venezuela, where he had promised his deceased wife they would one day live.
The film engages both children and adults alike with its complex and multi-faceted characters, and explores themes such as perseverance, love, and coping with old age, while still maintaining a light and funny mood.
"Up" opens with the love story between the main character, Carl, and his childhood sweetheart, Ellie. As children, the two share the dream of becoming adventurers like their idol Charles Muntz. As adults, they maintain their dream, saving money in a large jar that is slowly eroded by life's little problems. Following Ellie's death, Carl is faced with the prospect of moving to a retirement community, and decides to fulfill his life's dream by taking flight in his old Victorian home 's a feat he accomplishes by attaching countless helium balloons to the roof.
Unbeknownst to Carl, a young Wilderness Explorer Scout, Russell, was on the porch of his house at the time of his departure. The scout joins on Carl's adventure, much to the old man's initial displeasure.
Arriving in Venezuela, the unlikely pair find they are being hunted by a pack of evil talking dogs who have been granted speech by a technologically advanced collar. This aspect of the film seems tacked on, though it provides several extremely funny moments. The dogs bring the pair to Charles Muntz, who astoundingly is still alive and trying to capture a rare bird 's a bird that happens to have befriended Russell 's at all costs.
The fun, adventurous jungle action doesn't define the film, but rather accentuates the personal interactions that make up its greatness. "Up" has elements that will doubtless appeal to anyone, whether looking for comedy, drama or just a fun animated film for the summer.
Opens August 7 in Latvia and Estonia, and August 21 in Lithuania.
