Has Pixar done it (yet) again?
Blogger Larry Fire caught a sneak preview of Up, the new Disney/Pixar film from Pete Docter and Bob Peterson (A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc.). Despite only seeing a rough cut with storyboard and unfinished animation, he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
"I would definitely recommend this movie to family and friends as the animation that we saw was top notch," Fire writes. "We . . . cared for the major characters and found the story to be unique although a little morose compared to other Pixar fare.
"Although (it's) not my favorite Pixar film (my favorites were Finding Nemo and The Incredibles)," he says. "It is far better than many animated or even live action movies in the theater currently." He describes Up as "a bittersweet coming of age story with an unexpected friendship."
What's Up About?
"The cantankerous hero of Up is named Carl Fredricksen who spends his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest," Fire writes. "But at age 78, life seemed to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. The audience is along for a thrilling . . . journey with . . . Carl and Russell as they encounter wild South American terrain, an unexpected villain and unusual jungle creatures."
Ed Asner voices Carl, with Jordan Nagai as Russell, and John Ratzenberger and Paul Eiding helping out. Christopher Plummer voices the villain in the flick.
"The movie plot was completely original but somewhat dark with many adult themes (aging, loss, separation and unfinished promises)," Fire continues. "Both my wife and I welled up at a few scenes and there is a memorable montage that depicts a couple’s life together that is so poignant, even the toughest critic will be moved. There are still some very funny moments but this picture really stands on its own."
How Will Up Do in Theatres?
That's a tough call to make. Artistically, the Emeryville-based studio appears to be bulletproof: their last two films – Ratatouille and WALL-E – have received universal praise from critics and moviegoers alike. Ratatouille won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film last year, and Disney/Pixar thinks WALL-E is a solid contender for the 2009 Best Picture, even unleashing a massive promo campaign to secure a nomination.
Docter and Peterson aren't in the first rank of Pixar directors (that status goes to Brad Bird and Andrew Stanton), but they've made some solid films together, and Peterson has worked on some of the studio's best scripts, like Finding Nemo.
On the other hand, neither Ratatouille nor WALL-E pulled the kind of box office the Mouse House was hoping to earn. Both films were respectable hits, but they struggled to achieve $200 million in domestic ticket sales. Ratatouille's record-breaking international box office made it Pixar's third highest grossing film, but it was still swamped by DreamWorks Animation's Shrek the Third.
WALL-E suffered a similar fate. DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda earned $630 million worldwide, while the Andrew Stanton film earned $475 million in worldwide gross. It's also worth noting that Kung Fu Panda cost DreamWorks $130 million to make, while WALL-E cost Disney/Pixar a whopping $180 million.
Pixar's films are becoming more dramatic than the bubblegum offered by DreamWorks, Fox/Blue Sky and the other studios. This is great for getting critical notices; not so great for kids who want a silly diversion on a summer's day (or night).
On the other hand, this ensures that Pixar's catalogue remains strong: future generations will still be purchasing classic Pixar films for their kids long after the reference humour in Horton Hears a Who or the Shrek films becomes stale.
Up opens May 29, 2009.
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