Up (Pete Docter & Bob Peterson, 2009)

Pixar continues to expand what we consider kids movies to be. They steadfastly refuse to adhere to any sort of genre rules, which helps to keep their films feeling fresh. Last year with Wall-E, they made half a silent film and a love story about robots, and with Up there are again long stretches of observation over action. It’s also another love story, told from childhood to an elderly age and a beautiful examination of the adventurous spirit, how life can interfere in your plans for yourself and the need to fulfill a promise to someone as a means of getting closure. Those are some heavy themes to be throwing into my cartoon for kids and Pixar’s films are all the richer and everlasting for it. I don’t think it’s perfect, although I think things about it are perfectly done (Carl and Ellie’s relationship for one, Carl and Russell’s friendship for another). Like Wall-E though, the best of Up takes place within its opening hour and then it finds it harder to sustain. But it’s hard to quibble about minor plot points and characters when something is so joyous, wonderfully told and manages to tug at your heart just right.