Up: A Commentary On Relationships

I just saw Disney-Pixar’s newest 3d animation film, Up and I have to say that it’s probably my favorite Pixar movie yet!  It is a sweet, yet laugh-out-loud hilarious story about an old man with the heart and dreams of a young explorer.  I recommend this film to adults more than kids because of the intensity of the emotions and the moral messages (I almost cried many times).  It explores wonderful relationships between man and wife, an old man and a young boy, and a boy and his father.

The movie is a love story about a young boy and girl, Carl and Ellie, who meet and share an obsession with becoming world explorers.  We fast forward through the simple, but happy, life that they share with the common goal of eventually saving enough money to embark on a treacherous exploration to visit the mysterious Paradise Falls in South America.  They tackle the ups and downs that come with life, living without great wealth, and we see that it is a fantastical dream of visiting Paradise Falls that stays with them through the many years of their marriage.

I think it’s a commentary on married life that sometimes there are ups and downs and there is a need for a happy, possibly unattainable, abstract concept to hold on to.  Wealth and opulence exists all around us and sometimes it’s hard to accept that maybe we just might not attain those aspirations in this life.  We just might not be the ones who get to have those experiences.  But is it still okay to dream?  Or should we forget the dream to realize the happiness that is found in the things that you do have the opportunity to experience?  Maybe we don’t need to have lofty dreams.  Maybe it’s more important to enjoy the small things in life that are wonderful and beautiful because of the people with whom we share them.

The movie has a beautiful theme of love and family relationships that runs throughout.  The young wilderness explorer, Russell, who stowes away with Carl has revealing discussions about his limited relationship with his busy father and we see the affect that it has on his attitude and spirit.  We also see the relationship between Carl and Russell as the old man learns how to be a father figure to a loving child.

I don’t want to spoil too much about the movie, so I won’t say anymore.  But I do want adults to see this film and think about the contrast between depression and happiness and reality and fantasy that are portrayed in the relationships in this movie.

Image: Disney-Pixaf