UP (2009)

Summary:

Up tells the heartwarming and often melancholic story of Carl Fredricksen, an elderly widower who, after a lifetime of dreaming and a recent tragedy, decides to fulfill his and his late wife Ellie's shared ambition: to explore the wilds of South America. He does so in the most spectacular way imaginable, by attaching thousands of balloons to his house and floating away.

However, Carl's grand adventure takes an unexpected turn when he discovers an accidental stowaway on his porch: Russell, an earnest and persistent young Wilderness Explorer. Together, this unlikely duo embarks on a journey that leads them to encounter talking dogs, a rare and colorful bird named Kevin, and an infamous explorer from Carl's childhood, ultimately redefining what adventure and family truly mean.

Keywords: Up, 2009, Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Animated, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Pixar.

Plot:

The film opens with a poignant montage depicting the life of Carl Fredricksen and his adventurous wife Ellie, from their childhood meeting and shared dream of exploring Paradise Falls in South America, through their marriage, attempts to have children, and eventual quiet life together. After Ellie's passing, Carl becomes a grumpy and reclusive widower, stubbornly refusing to sell his house to developers who are building around him.

Faced with forced relocation to a retirement home, Carl makes a drastic decision. He attaches thousands of helium balloons to his house, turning it into an airship, and sets off towards Paradise Falls to fulfill his and Ellie's lifelong dream. Soon after takeoff, he discovers a young, persistent Wilderness Explorer named Russell, who was on his porch trying to earn his "Assisting the Elderly" badge, is an accidental stowaway.

Their journey takes them to the treacherous landscape near Paradise Falls, where they encounter Dug, a talking golden retriever who claims to be part of a pack, and Kevin, a rare, colorful, flightless bird that Russell quickly befriends. They soon discover that Dug's pack and their master are none other than Charles F. Muntz, Carl's childhood hero and a famed explorer, who lives on a massive zeppelin. Muntz, obsessed with capturing Kevin to prove his past claims and restore his reputation, turns out to be the true antagonist. Carl, Russell, Dug, and Kevin must evade Muntz and his army of talking dogs, leading to a climactic aerial battle to save Kevin and ultimately, to Carl learning that true adventure lies not just in reaching a destination, but in the journey itself and the unexpected bonds formed along the way.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Ed Asner as Carl Fredricksen
• Jordan Nagai as Russell
• Bob Peterson as Dug / Alpha
• Christopher Plummer as Charles F. Muntz

Crew:

• Directors: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson (co-director)
• Producers: Jonas Rivera
• Screenwriters: Bob Peterson, Pete Docter (story by Tom McCarthy, Bob Peterson, Pete Docter)
• Music by: Michael Giacchino
• Editor: Kevin Nolting

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: May 29, 2009
• Language: English
• Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family
• Running Time: 96 minutes
• Accolades: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Academy Award for Best Original Score. Nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Editing.