Pixar is to movies what Aesop Rock lyrics are to rap - there's no such thing as hit or miss, even the things that aren't that impressive still blow the work of everyone else out of the water. 'Up' is certainly no exception.
With their unique ability to not even advertise the story line of a movie (in this case just showing an old man's house on balloons and a frightened child on the porch in the advertisements), Pixar is at the pinnacle of their success with their target audience. Although it is expected to go to a Pixar movie and leave with a smile on your face, it is just as expected to be pleasantly surprised with how human they are willing to make their movies.
'Up' starts in the childhood of one for real adventurer and one boy who really wants to be more adventurous. Their chance meeting changes their lives and the movie chronicles the reality of life moving awfully fast and their dreams making way for other dreams and life realities. The heartbreaking reality to all this actually made me tear up and although it was likely that not all little children might know exactly what was happening during this part, it certainly quieted the audience.
That being said 'Up' is a comedy and a drama and a feelgood family movie wrapped into one (as only Pixar seems to be able to do). I laughed a good amount, teared up a few times, and I left feeling good about the world. Not too shabby after watching a cartoon about a guy who travels to South America by putting balloons on top of his house.
