“Up” is a great movie. Good script. Good characters/voices. And a heartwarming story that strives to teach us all (at every age) that life is a series of adventures, big and small. HOWEVER, nobody warned me how SAD it would be.

I’m a big girl/chick. I can handle it. But my five-year-old niece and her five-year-old companion (a little rooster) were not very impressed. In fact, the boy wanted to bail during the first half hour and I could understand why. A rather long melancholy montage of life literally passing by can be difficult to comprehend, particularly for young children. The theater was peppered with youngsters whose voices could often be heard asking, “What Happened?”, “Why are they crying?” and “What Happened?”. And did I mention, “What Happened?”.

I don’t know why I was expecting a “funny” movie. This is Disney after all. I’m still recovering from that scene in “Song of the South” where the kid gets whacked by a bull. And it’s been over 30 years since I’ve seen that one!

I guess I’m just trying to warn all those parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. who plan to take kids to see “Up” based strictly on hearing what a wonderful movie it is. It’s an adult movie (“chick flick” for sure) wrapped up in a kid’s movie. The problem is that older kids – you know, the ones who won’t do animated movies cause “they’re for kids” won’t go see it. And younger kids looking for a fun adventure movie may not “get it”. If only the studios could figure out how to make a great 90-minute movie for adults that’s actually wrapped up in a movie for adults. Wouldn’t that be something!? An adult movie with a good script, good characters/actors and a heartwarming story. I guess, for now, us adults will have to settle for “Up” and try not to beat ourselves up for tearing up at a kid’s movie.

One thought on “The Downside of UP”
  1. In fairness to Pixar, it is rated PG. So parents should know it’s not going to be just your standard kids’ fare. And what a difference a year makes. The six-year old I took with me loved it and had no problem with the beginning.

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