UP (PG)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

In a word: Surprising

Plot:  After 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen, a balloon vendor,  loses his beloved wife and their longtime home, he decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and head to Paradise Falls, a place "lost in time" and located in the wilds of South America.  To get there, he ties thousands of helium balloons to his home and heads for the skies.  Along for the ride is Russell, a young Wilderness Scout, who is attempting to get his "assissting the elderly" badge.  The two journey to Paradise Falls, where they meet strange birds, talking dogs and a long-lost hero of Karl's.

Thoughts:  Amazing!  Who would have thought that a film studio would have the guts to put a grumpy old man in a film's lead (a grumpy old man who isn't trying to find the true meaning of Christmas).  It works wonderfully!  This seems to be the first Pixar film geared more toward adults than to kids.  The love story of Karl and Ellie (shown mostly in flashes during the title sequence) is lovely and a real tear-jerker.  The growing fondness between Karl and Russell is handled very well, and Russell never becomes the annoying kid sidekick that I was afraid he would become.   The voice acting is terrific - especially Ed Asner as Karl. 

There's still stuff for the little ones - Kevin the bird, Dug the Dog - but the story is more of a coming of age tale for the elderly set.  

SPOILERS: Be prepared to explain infertility to the kids and death. Karl's story begins when Ellie's story ends.  There are real moments of melancholy in this film that were startling.  I found myself close to tears when Karl found Ellie's last note to him in her "Adventure" book.  This really was a beautiful love story. 

More Dug would have been nice, though.  He was a hoot.

If you like this, try watching: Finding Nemo, Tokyo Godfathers, Spirited Away