Up (2009)

3 out of 4

Starring: (voices of) Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo

Directors: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

Time: 96 mins

Viewed: Regal Marlboro 8, New Jersey

Is there no end to Pixar's penchant for telling a great story, with instantly likable characters and vivid animation? Their latest, Up, continues their 100% hit rate. What seems at first like an unconventional tale - that of an old man (Asner, in fine, grumpy form) who goes on a aerial adventure by tying thousands of balloons to his house - begins with a wonderful prologue that may be the finest segment of filmmaking in Pixar's canon (and that's saying a lot, considering the CGI marvels that include The Incredibles, Toy Story 2, Ratatouille and last year's Wall-E). While it loses some steam halfway through, it picks itself up again for one of the Pixar hallmarks - the fabulously fun, fast, furious and frantic finale. While not in my top tier of Pixar films, it is still much more inventive and creative than just about anything out there from another studio, with a warmth to their animation that no one else (including parent company Disney) can currently match.

(c) Joe Wong (2 June 2009)