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Sun 11 Oct 2009

Review of ‘Up’

It was Walt Disney who once said “for every laugh there should be a tear”; that certainly seems to be the mantle from which the makers of Up have set their template, wish is at once conjures rapturous laughter and bittersweet sentiment.

Up features the most unlikely of Disney heroes; a curmudgeon old man intent on flying his house (his whole house!) to South America with a little help of hundreds of balloons, in order to fulfill a life-long promise to his tragically late wife. Along for the ride is an endearing ten year old boy scout, a 10 ft multi-coloured bird with a penchant for chocolae, and an elderly villain with an army of loyal talking dogs at his disposal (who incidently, have the best lines in the film). Its wacky, unbelievable and the most fun you’ll have in the cinema this year.

The film is unshamedley hilarious, and is so heart-warming even the most hardened, cynical movie-goers will force a smile. The first 10 minutes of the film are devastating, tackling mature themes that wouldn’t look out of place in a Mike Leigh picture. While the remaining 80 minutes don’t live up to the opening astronomical high its still a treat for the whole family and without a doubt one of the best films of the year. Pixar has delivered yet another animation classic. Highly recommended.

9/10

Alex Evans – Contributing for Showbiz-i 

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