#184: Up

Release Date: May 29th, 2009

Format: Streaming (Disney+)

Written by: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

Directed by: Pete Docter

4 Stars

At the time of its release, Up was a great exemplification of what made Pixar films feel so vibrant and original, especially in comparison to the films of its studio big brother, Disney (the irony here is that Disney acquired the smaller studio three years prior to Up’s release for the price of $7.4 billion; if you can’t beat ‘em, buy ‘em, and then cash their checks for eternity).    

If by the 2000s Disney films started to feel a bit stale, Pixar’s films in comparison seemed ripe to the point of bursting. Their characters were dynamic, their visuals stunning, and their writing, oh boy, seemed leagues beyond what Disney was churning out. It was writing that was nuanced and took risks. It told a good story, but it wasn’t beholden to formula. It was great writing that transcended its genre. 

This comparison is what came to mind while I watched Up tonight. Would Disney have green-lighted a script in which the protagonist is a newly widowed old man who ties balloons to his house so he can fly to Venezuela? Probably not, but let’s say by some miracle they did green-light it for production, would Disney allow the first ten minutes of the film to be a montage depicting a couple weathering the disappointment of not having children, then growing old, suffering health setbacks, and finally, facing their own mortality? 

Not a chance.

And the fact that writers Pete Docter and Bob Peterson had the confidence to take this heavy material and elevate it (pun intended) with a whimsical tale about adventure and realizing your dreams is downright admirable. This is a funny, silly movie, with talking dogs and a big goofy bird, and lots of exciting action set pieces.

It’s a film that might not be Pixar’s artistic peak, but did a lot for cementing its legacy.