Cross My Heart
Up
Review by Ross Anthony

"Up" is a near masterpiece. The first half is absolutely brilliant -- a beautiful compelling work of art. I laughed, I cried, I ogled at the rich visuals. The 3D accents the package, a juicy red cherry on top. It's been a while since a film has so moved me, so quickly.

I don't suppose I'm spoiling any surprises to talk about the house taking to the air which happens someplace around the halfway mark. You might be expecting, as was I, for this to be the point at which the film really takes off (so to speak). Unfortunately, shortly after, the production embarks into a different storyline, that meanders more than it ascends. It's not a bad flight, really, just not as purely beautiful as the launch. You'll still root for the main characters. You'll still laugh when you're supposed to. It's just that the heart of the matter seems to have lost its way. Perhaps that's exactly what the writers meant to do, since it sort of parallels the lesson the old man's about to learn.

Eventually, after one of the film's characters quite awkwardly takes the role of antagonist, the story once again aligns strongly with its theme and thankfully hammers it home. That theme: Each of us has our own respective goals and dreams. But achieving those goals will be an empty victory, if we disregard the dreams of others in order to do it.

By the way, I enjoyed this on a non-Imax digital 3D screen. Very nice. Took my gf and her niece and nephew, 6 and 5, who all also enjoyed "Up."

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --


  • Up. Copyright © 2009.
  • Starring Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, Jerome Ranft. Directed by Pete Docter Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter. Produced by Jonas Rivera at Buena Vista Pictures.

Grade..........................A- (3/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Monday, 01-Jun-2009 09:50:20 PDT