Up Review
Up is a comedy adventure about a 78 year old widower named Carl, who finally fulfills his life long dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to Paradise Falls in South America. This is a place he and his wife had dreamt of going to since they first met as children, but the everyday life occurrences got in the way, so they never made the trip together. During the flight, he discovers a stowaway; Russell, an enthusiastic 8 year old boy scout. Once they arrive in South America they come across many adventures that change both of their lives.
Rating: Four out of five buckets.
Release Date: November 10, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Carl and his wife had a wonderful relationship. He adored her from the minute they met, even though she passes away, he continues to talk to her throughout the movie.
Russell and Carl have a sweet relationship as well. Russell has one badge left to earn as a boy scout, it’s his “assisting the elderly” badge, which he aims to do throughout the movie by caring and respecting Carl.
As Carl struggles with his house and material possessions, it’s Russell who knows what’s really important in life. When Russell is telling a story about he and his dad getting ice cream, he then says “It might sound boring, but I kinda think it’s the boring stuff I remember the most. Carl learns valuable lessons involving family, friendship and materialism.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
- Young kids may get scared. If you’re afraid of dogs you won’t like the movie. There are mean dogs in the movie that have special collars that make them talk, which is also very funny.
- In South America they meet a bad guy, Charles Munz, a longtime adventurer whom Carl had always wanted to meet, though he wasn’t what Carl had expected. When Munz and Carl get into a sword fight, Munz fires a shotgun at Carl, that sets the house on fire. This scared my niece who’s 6 years old.
Crude or Profane Content: Mild
- “Gosh,” “golly” and “darn.” are used.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters drink wine.
I interviewed kids ages 3 to 12. Younger kids thought it was scary, but ages 7 and up really liked it. Adults will love it. They’ll get the humor and appreciate the relationships that Carl has with his wife and the young boy that he meets.
Overall it’s a heartwarming film about keeping promises, treasuring people, not material possessions, value time with your kids, and to honor and respect elderly people. It’s a good movie for grandparents to take their grandchildren. I give it 4 buckets.
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