Every once in a while a very special animated film comes along.
It's a film that is not the same old thing. In fact, it is even daring in its
storytelling. And more often than not, it's an animated film that employs a
degree of sophistication and is more for adults than it is for the kiddies, as
not every animated film needs to be only for the junior set. Like 2003's
"Triplets of Bellville," "Up" is one of these films.
Since it's Pixar, we expect the storytelling and the art of the
film to be stellar and to be sure, Up is all that and more. It's so good it
doesn't even need the 3D to recommend it. What makes Up special is the main
character, Carl Fredricksen, a crotchety old gent who, despite his walker-cane
(which becomes a pretty important prop down the line), is not your stereotypical
old guy. I'm not sure there are too many studios that would even go for the
pitch, "Well, it's about this old guy who ties a pile of balloons to his house."
Only Pixar.
When we first meet Carl Fredricksen, he is introduced to us as a
boy who is wowed by the newsreel exploits of Charles Muntz, a Charles
Lindberg-type globetrotting explorer. Young Carl soon finds Ellie, the love of
his life, who's equally crazy about Muntz and adventure; and the two of them
grow up, get married, and grow old together, all the while never losing their
thirst and longing for adventure. This introductory segment, which sets up the
main story before the action really gets going, is filled with a boatload of
poignancy as it goes about explaining why Carl is crotchety, so grab your
hankies, you'll need 'em.
You see, Carl and Ellie always dreamed of traveling to South
America together, even saving up all their coins in a jar for the trip. But
somehow, life always intervened and the money had to be spent for more pressing
needs. Though Carl crossed-his-heart-promised Ellie he'd take her on that
adventure, they grew old and she died before he could make good on his promise,
leaving him that lonely, old, crotchety, guy living by all by himself in their
cute little house -- a house which is now surrounded by construction and a group
of land developers who plot to get their hands on the lone holdout, Carl's
house. Before the developers can get Carl carted off to the old folks home and
grab his land though, he hatches a plan involving a whole lot of helium-filled
balloons mixed in with just a dash of adventure, and the next thing you know,
Carl is floating off in his balloon-tethered house to live his and Ellie's
dream.
Enter Russell, the Wilderness Explorer, and accidental stowaway.
Carl is none too pleased to have Russell aboard for the adventure but there
isn't a whole lot he can do about it and besides, Russell really needs to come
to the aide of an old person in order to win the last Wilderness Explorer badge
he needs to get to the next Wilderness Explorer level.
At this point in the movie, you really just need to surrender
everything you know about rationality and go along for the
adventure because logically, there is no way a house could float up in the air
suspended by balloons, let alone make it all the way to South America. And there
is certainly no way an old gent, no matter how fit, could perform some of the
stunts Carl and Russell do. No matter, it's good to surrender and go along for
the adventure. Because once that house descends upon the rugged South American
terrain and Dug the talking dog enters the scene (who everyone is going to love
madly), you will be powerless to resist the fun and nail-biting action.
No matter what the subject, a Pixar film always employs an
element of playfulness that I genuinely look forward to. Of course there will be
a character voiced by John Ratzenberger, and he is present in Up, but there will
also be little hidden references, like the Pizza Planet truck (look for it at
one of the intersections in the city as Carl's house takes flight). This time
out, try and spot Russell's hamburger cake patch, a reference to Oakland's
Merritt Bakery where director Pete Docter and Producer Jonas Rivera liked to go
for a slice of cake and sit and talk about the movie while they were working on
it. Merritt Bakery, you see, is famous for the cake that looks just like a
hamburger, and the next time I make it back up to Oakland, I'd like to earn my
own "hamburger cake patch" by trying a slice of that cake.
As always, I have to add a word about the El Capitan Theatre in
Hollywood where Up is playing, through July 23rd, in Disney Digital
3D. Before each show you are of course, treated to organist Rob Richards' great
music, but this time, the fine folks at the El Capitan are also throwing in "an
all-new singing and dancing stage extravaganza" called Lighten UP! It's a very
colorful show filled with infectious music, Disney characters, an opportunity
for the kiddies to join the conga line, and what no Disney show would ever be
complete without, confetti.
After the movie, head next door to the Disney Soda
Fountain and Studio Store to shop for some Up merchandise - lots of plush Dugs
in a couple of sizes (you know you want one), t-shirts, pins, assorted books,
and a great Little Golden Book version of Up - and then treat yourself to the
special Up-themed sundae (bubble gum ice cream, colored marshmallows, and a
cloud of whipped cream).
And before I forget, check out the coming soon listings below, in particular
the last one. That's no typo, you will be able to see that movie at the Disney
Studio lot in a special pre-release engagement. Details will soon be coming.
The Details
Digitally projected in 3-D, UP runs through
July 23rd at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
Organist Rob Richards
performs before each screening on the Mighty Wurlitzer, and there is a new
live stage show, Lighten Up! before the film starts.
Show times (subject to
change, of course) are:
10am, 12:45pm, 2:50pm, 4pm, 7pm and 9:40pm
General Admission Prices are:
Adult $16 | Child (3-11) & Senior (60+) $14 |
Group (20+) $12
VIP Admission (includes popcorn, soft drink, reserved seat
and no waiting in line):
$26
Tickets may be purchased at the theater, via phone at 1-800-DISNEY6
(1-800-347-6396) or online at
www.elcapitantickets.com
with a service fee added for the latter two methods. (Groups of twenty
or more may purchase specially discounted tickets in advance, but
this may only be done by calling 1-818-845-3110 as these tickets are not
available at the box office.)
Birthday parties are also welcomed at the
same phone number.
The El Capitan Theater is located in Hollywood California at
6838
Hollywood Boulevard. Theater lobby-validated $2 (first four
hours only) parking is available underground in the Hollywood &
Highland complex (adjacent to the Chinese Theater) across the street.
UP is rated PG;
parental guidance suggested, some peril and action. Running time: 1 hour
36 minutes.
Plan Ahead: Coming Soon to the El Capitan
July 24, 2009: G-Force in 3-D & Interactive Experience
September 11, 2009: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
October 2, 2009: Toy Story I & II in 3-D
October 16, 2009: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
October 23, 2009: The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D
November 6, 2009: A Christmas Carol in 3-D & Holiday Stage Show
Coming to the Walt Disney Studios in
Burbank
November 25, 2009: The Princess and the Frog - Special Advance
Engagement
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