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June 3, 2009

'Up' deserves highest praise

By STEVE OUELLETTE, Movie Review

These guys never miss.

Pixar put out its 10th animated feature this week and once again hit one into the stratosphere with the aptly titled "Up."

Pixar has the best batting average of any movie studio ever — and now it's just showing off by giving itself an unnecessary degree of difficulty.

Building a kid-friendly cartoon around a crotchety old man who is mourning his late wife and facing removal to a nursing home doesn't scream "blockbuster hit" — but then, neither did gourmet rat cookery or lonely garbage robot.

"Up" is a treat for both kids and grown-ups, providing an intelligent, exciting, funny and completely heartfelt escape.

The film's star is square-faced, 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen (voice of 78-year-old Ed Asner, in true, lovably grumpy, "Lou Grant" form). We meet Carl as a child, dreaming of adventure, then, in an extremely well done 10-minute montage, we learn about his life, his love, his dreams, his disappointments and his depression — after the death of his dear wife.

It's a brilliant start, telling us everything we need to know about Carl and making him immediately sympathetic, no matter how cranky he might seem in the present. It's also short enough that the kids can hang in there until the fun stuff begins — i.e., when Carl decides to have the belated adventure that he and his wife never experienced, ties a thousand or so helium balloons to his house and sets sail for South America.

Along for the ride is a stowaway of sorts, Russell, a chubby, earnest scout seeking his elderly-assistance merit badge. Eventually, they're joined by a hilarious talking dog named Dug — giving an inner look at the workings of the canine mind — and a giant bird named Kevin, who reminds me a bit of the Roadrunner on steroids.

The story is clever, and the film is warm emotionally without seeming sappy. As an added bonus, John Ratzenberger ("Cheers") continues his streak of appearing as a voice in every Pixar movie.

"Up" is the first movie available in the North Country in the new 3-D technology, and it flourishes in that format. The 3-D effects aren't designed to jump out at the audience members, but rather to immerse them in a sharp, lush world. It's the first 3-D movie I've seen that didn't seem to be about being in 3-D. Scenes weren't specifically made to show off the technology; the 3-D is merely used to enhance what is already there.

The 3-D is a seamless fit and the best way to see the film, but it's not vital to the presentation here — as it probably was for fare like "Monsters vs. Aliens." "Up" is good in any format.

Rental recommendation: How about another strangely propelled animated dwelling? You may not have seen "Howl's Moving Castle," but it's worthwhile and unique. Grade: A-.

E-mail Steve Ouellette at: ouellette1918@gmail.com

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