"Up" is Another Winner from Disney/Pixar

As a child, Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) makes a promise to his tomboy neighbor, Ellie, that someday they'll move their clubhouse (a dilapidated abandoned house on their street) to Paradise Falls in South America. They're both inspired by the adventures of the dashing explorer Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer), who claims to have brought back the skeletal remains of a new species of giant, exotic bird.

Carl and Ellie grow up together and get married, buy and fix up the old club house, and start saving their loose change in a big jar marked "Paradise Falls." But the unplanned for expenses of everyday life get in the way, and the adventure keeps getting putting off, until it's too late. Carl finds himself alone in the house, reclusive and cranky, still talking out loud to his memories of Ellie. He refuses to sell the old house to developers, despite the city growing up all around it. The home is his connection to Ellie, and he's not yet ready to let go.

Carl's mundane daily routine gets stirred up when Russell (Jordan Nagai), a young Wilderness Explorer trying to earn earn his "Assisting the Elderly" merit badge, shows up on his front porch, eager to help Carl with something - anything! - he needs.

After a run-in with the construction crew working around his house, Carl decides he's had enough and hatches a plan to fulfill his promise to Ellie and take the house, their clubhouse, to Paradise Falls. The plan involves thousands of balloons, but what Carl doesn't plan on is Russell stowing away on the front porch. Carl and Russell share an epic adventure, even crossing paths with the long-missing Muntz, still looking for the elusive exotic bird.

Disney/Pixar's Up is a true delight, the rare film equally appealing to children and adults alike. Director Pete Docter masterfully guides the adventure, balancing moments of excitement, humor and heartbreak with a deft hand and tireless attention to detail. These characters are believable, and despite being placed in an animated film they are never cartoonish. You can't help caring about them. There's plenty of action, certainly enough to keep the kids entertained, but thoughtful adults will find Up heartwarming and poetic. It's also visually stunning. This is a must-see film.

Up is rated PG.

Note - The film is being shown in 3D in some theaters. I suggest you forgo the gimmick and see it in 2D. There's plenty to enjoy without the funny glasses.

Link to Up trailer
Link to local showtimes