Classic Review #49: Up

Available on Disney+

I’ve watched Up a handful of times now and its opening sequence never fails to make me cry. People that know me well will know that’s not the mightiest of feats, but I do reserve my tears for genuinely moving stuff, and the opening to Pete Docter and Bob Peterson’s animated masterpiece is just that. In around 10 minutes, we bear witness to life’s rich tapestry - the innocence of youth, the thrill of falling in love, and the bittersweet contentment of growing old. Put simply, it is one of the most breathtaking cinematic arrangements ever put to screen.

Thankfully for the younger element of Up’s audience, what happens from thereon is more keeping with Pixar’s modus operandi, as we witness the adventures of cantankerous widower Carl (Ed Asner), effervescent wilderness explorer Russell (Jordan Nagai), and their delightful canine companion Dug (Peterson). Their story is a sweet, life-affirming one about the importance of adventure and moving ahead, even when your heart is rightfully still anchored in your past.

Accompanied by another stirring Michael Giacchino score, Up was only the second animated feature film in history to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, underpinning its credentials as one of Pixar’s greatest triumphs.