My husband and I first saw this movie when it was out in theaters. I remember very well running into acquaintances of ours who had brought their granddaughter to the movie. She said to us, “Why are you guys here to see a kids’ movie?” hahaha. She did not know me. If I have a chance to see the latest animated blockbuster in a theater, I’m there, sister! I love this movie. The love story without words at the beginning gets me every time. I love grumpy old Carl Fredericksen, slightly annoying Russell, and, especially, faithful, loveable Dug. What a great movie!
Plot Summary: By tying thousands of balloons to his home, 78-year-old Carl sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years younger, inadvertently becomes a stowaway. (www.imdb.com)
Fun Fact: When the house first rises, breaking free of its foundation, the front porch is clearly empty. Yet Russell appears later in the far right corner. This is explained by Russell later when he says he crawled under the porch chasing a “snipe”. Apparently he hung on to something underneath the porch and crawled up later. In the short film George & A.J. it is revealed that Russell braced himself underneath Carl’s house when it took off in the same way that Woody held onto Sid’s milk crate when Sid picked it up in Toy Story. However, in the Up movie several shots show the complete underside of the house as it flies off and Russell is clearly not there (or on the porch). (www.imdb.com)
Favourite Character: Dug
Favourite Song:
The song that plays during the Love Story Montage. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLprjxFhs8s)
Quotable Quotes:
I am about to show you something I’ve never shown to anyone in my life. Ever.
South America. It’s like America, but South.
So long, fellas! I’ll send you a postcard from Paradise Falls.
“Kevin?” “Yeah! That’s his name I just gave him.”
My name is Dug. I have just met you and I love you!
What’s Dug doing? Why’s he with that small mailman?
I do ever so want the ball!
You lost it! Why do I not have a surprised feeling?
He has lost the bird. Put him in the cone of shame.
Ha! It’s funny ‘cause the squirrel gets dead.
It might sound boring. But I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember most.
I was hiding under your porch because I love you. Can I stay?
“I wanna help!” “I don’t want your help! I want you safe!”
For assisting the elderly and performing above and beyond the call of duty, I would like to give you the greatest honour I can bestow – the Ellie badge.
Final Thoughts:
Friendship can warm up even the coldest, grumpiest heart. When Carl lost Ellie, he shut himself off from his dreams, his passions, the world, and friendship. Russell, Kevin, and Dug help to thaw his heart and bring out his begrudgingly caring side. So many times, when things go wrong in life, we shut ourselves up, dwell on what’s been lost or taken from us, and don’t notice all the good things that might be right in front of us right now.
5 Mickeys out of 5:
Next Week’s Movie: Hercules
Every Week Disney 