The first is a love story that will break your heart, a cradle-to-the-grave dance of love that sets you up for an emotional fall within the first 15 minutes. And so, when lonely, grumpy and sweetly stubborn Carl Fredricksen refuses to move out of the house that love built, we understand. And when he refuses to engage with the outside world – even in the form of a chubby little boy scout – we hear his pain.
It’s that second half, when Carl and his nervous young companion, Russell, head off on a balloon ride to Paradise Falls, to fulfill a life-long happy couple dream trip – well, that’s when things get a little weird and wonderful. With talking dogs, oversized emus and an old adventurer who’s far more Colonel Kurtz than Indiana Jones.
Pixar realised early on that a little darkness made all the colours and magic of their stories shine that little bit brighter. And that’s certainly the case here.
And, besides, this movie features Doug. The greatest dog that ever strutted across the silver screen.
SQUIRREL!
This special 10th anniversary screening of Pixar’s Up will take place at 3pm on Friday, August 30th, and will include a free Kids snackbox – fresh popcorn, sweets and a drink – or, for the big kids, a free large box of freshly-popped popcorn. Each kid will also get a free balloon. Just because.
