"UP" is a downer

Nobody can say whether or not this is for you, but there may be things that are painful for you to watch. Here are things to take into consideration:

-Infertility is touched on in one scene as part of a montage. It is literally ony a few seconds in the film and very subtle (they never come out and talk about infertility or miscarriage), but it is there.

-The beginning scenes are about Carl and the relationship with his wife and shows their life together up to her death. It shows the hearbreak he experiences when the love of his life passes away and his curmudgeonly behavior is scene through that lens. I actually liked it because it gave you a basis for the behavior. So often we think of the bitter old person stereotype without thinking about why they are bitter. You don't feel the same way about him as you would if they skipped straight to the incident that acts as a catalyst for the entire plot.

-It is clear that Carl has never really gotten over the loss of Ellie, and this movie really touches on the theme of moving on after a loved one has passed away.

While it is often sad, there are many hilarious parts and I came out feeling uplifted, not down. It did bring back memories of my stepgrandmother/grandfather. I grew up with only one living biological grandparent. My father's father died when my dad was a toddler, my mother's mother died before I was born, and my father's mother died when I was 5 so I have no clear memory of her. My only grandparents that I have memories of are my mother's father and stepmother (grandpa remarried after his wife died) who treated me like her own grandchild.

We lived several states away so only saw them once or twice a year, but I loved them a lot. As my grandparents aged they were no longer able to really live on their own. They were able to take care of each other, but not themselves. After grandpa broke his arm they ended up in an assisted living facility (kind of like the one Carl is supposed to go to). Shortly after my grandfather died. He was the third husband Helen had buried (one lost in the war, one who died of a heart attack, and now grandpa). I remember going to grandpa's funeral with her and how heartbroken she was. She wanted to move back into her house, but could not take care of herself and had to stay in the facility. She died a few months later.

This movie certainly reminded me of grandma after grandpa's death. The idea of needing to live in a facility, the loneliness, the heartbreak. But it wasn't overwhelming. So many times the elderly are not really portrayed in movies or are only peripheral characters. It is nice to have one that tackles the issues that come up with aging in a sensitive and funny way.
 
I saw it today with DH12 and we both thought it was great. I warned him that some parts might be sad. I also wasn't sure if he was catching on to some of the scenes, like the infertility scene. I leaned over and whispered to him, "she can't have babies, that's why she's sad". He whispered back that he knew that. Neither one of us felt there was anything overwhelmingly sad about any of it. No, it isn't a lighthearted movie from beginning to end, but I have found many other movies to be a lot sadder that kids are watching. The Harry Potter books and movies are certainly sadder.

Edited to add:

this movie really made me think about life in general, and how we need to treasure each and every day, even if our life isn't quite what we thought it would be. I found out last night that a childhood friend that I haven't seen in years died in his sleep three days ago at the age of 34. This was a person who absolutely loved life, from the first time I met him at the age of about 10, I could tell that, right up to the last time I saw him at about age 19. From what I am hearing, he never lost that.

Two years ago, another friend, same thing. It just reminds me so much that we need to LOVE LIFE, and not always wish for what we can't have.
 
Some good replies here from those who HAVE seen the movie and understand it.

I saw it with some 20-something friends the other day (I'm 30) and we all enjoyed it immensely, whether it was the sad parts, the extremely funny parts, or the plain good adventure parts...it made me realize a few things...

1.) While I truly do enjoy the more light-hearted Dreamworks and Fox animation, they haven't been able to match the heart of Pixar's films, this one especially.

2.) Anyone who says there's no originality creativity left in "Hollywood" movies need to look at Pixar more closely

3.) This movie was brilliant on many levels.

I'm a guy so I don't usually cry at movies, and I didn't in this one either, but there was some very touching moments where I nearly did get misty...one towards the end especially however it wasn't as sad as much as just really touching.

I agree with those who said that most kids are going to overlook some of the subtle references to what happens and have more fun on the rest of the positive parts of the movie.
 
Some good replies here from those who HAVE seen the movie and understand it.

Just because I or others don't care for the movie, doesn't mean we don't understand it. I've lived through all the human emotion aspects of this movie, believe me I get it. I started this thread simply because I found the movie depressing in parts and funny in others. Now, I'm somehow dimwitted and do not understand fine cinema.

I'm not debating the relative merits of the storyboarding, writing, art direction, 3-D animation, programming, sound effects and post production of this film. All great. Should win an Oscar for sure. But yet, still was a downer to me. Oh well.
 

Just because I or others don't care for the movie, doesn't mean we don't understand it. I've lived through all the human emotion aspects of this movie, believe me I get it. I started this thread simply because I found the movie depressing in parts and funny in others. Now, I'm somehow dimwitted and do not understand fine cinema.

I'm not debating the relative merits of the storyboarding, writing, art direction, 3-D animation, programming, sound effects and post production of this film. All great. Should win an Oscar for sure. But yet, still was a downer to me. Oh well.

What I meant was, some people are jumping to conclusions and haven't even watched it yet...
 
I agree that this movie did have a different feel. It seemed heavier overall than the other Disney movies that have sad parts. Even though there were some very funny moments I felt a bit melancholy when I left. It was beautiful to look at, but not a movie I need to see again.
 
It's a very very dark movie, especially for Disney. It ends happily, but even then. It's a very very bittersweet movie. It was the best movie I've ever watched, though.
 
I actually didn't find UP to be near as dark as Snow White or Sleeping Beauty or Pinocchio were. Those movies really upset me as a child that people were so mean (even if the person was a witch;)). UP was certainly more poignant, but I genuinely felt the message was overall a postivite one-that our loved ones don't want us to be sad. They want us to take those happy memories and go forward.
By the way, we saw the movie at a drive in. Still my favorite place to see one!
 
Thank you! Everyone talks about how UP is so sad, and it's true, there are some sad parts - but it's also the funniest Pixar movie in awhile. There are moments in that movie I couldn't hear because the audience was laughing so much.

Nearly all of the Pixar movies have sad moments: Jesse reminiscing about Emily in Toy Story 2, Nemo's family getting wiped out before the opening credits rolled in Finding Nemo, Radiator Springs being forgotten about and abandoned in Cars.

And again - all of these movies were really funny too. Just as funny as they were sad. Carl needing to learn to let go of the house was nearly the same as Marlin realizing he needed to let Nemo grow as well.

Frankly I'd rather see the complexity that Pixar puts into their movies than the usual fart-jokes and pop culture references that Dreamworks animated films seem to be all about.

I agree:thumbsup2 We LOVED UP. That includes DH, myself, DS10 and DD9. We cried and felt sad, laughed really hard and left feeling happy.
 
That movie made me cry like a baby multiple times. I know that's the Disney way. But, it just seemed like this movie dealt with some very deep, mature subjects. I take my kid to the movies for fun and escape not to be punched in the gut. Infertility, death, absent parents are all tough subjects for a kid's movie.


I appreciate your honesty. I like to know more about the movies our family sees. Sometimes the information out there just doesn't match the movie. Your review allows us to be prepared for the topics presented if we choose to see the movie. Thank you for posting.
 
After watching the trailers for some of the other kids' movies in front of UP like Shorts and G-Force, which looked dreadful...I was thankful that we have a studio like Pixar who can make movies for families and tell stories without resorting to cheap jokes and annoying gags like those other movies do. They make films we actually want to see again.
 
We saw it yesterday, I also, was tearing up a few times.

I did think it was a great movie.
 
We saw it as a family last night me, dh, ds (14), dd (10) and ds (4) and we all loved it! I wouldn't call it "very dark". It had more serious subjects in this one movie than Disney usually does, but I didn't feel it made the overall movie dark. And we have dealt with some of those topics personally. I have done the scene in the ob/gyn's office myself many, many times and my kids know it. Heck, I had a miscarriage in April and my 2 older kids know it. They can handle it.
 
I'm glad I saw it, but it wasn't my favorite Pixar movie. But I love all the Pixar movies! :thumbsup2

Ditto :thumbsup2

I think that what makes these movies great is that they are made for ... <SQUIRREL!>
I think that what makes these movies great is that they are made for both children and adults.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

However, I just sick to death of having heavy, adult, and even worse PC, messages hurled at our kids in the name of entertainment :sad2:

I had been hearing that UP was really good, 'wonderful', etc...

God, am I glad I saw this thread.

Now I may be having second thoughts.

I stayed away from Happy Feet.
Was wary of the 'message' in Wall-e. Saw it, but didn't think it was that good.

Ohhhh well.... <....sigh....>

I completely agree with you about being beaten over the head with the "messages" This one is not nearly as bad as Wall-E and Happy Feet. Those were awful. I liked this movie. I didn't love it...I'm a huge fan of Toy Story, Cars, Nemo...the lighter stuff. I hated Wall-E, as did my son who said it was "fine" but has never asked to see it again, and never asked for a single Wall-E related toy.

There's a stretch in the beginning showing Ellie and Carl getting married, getting older, dealing with the loss of (what we assume but are not told) an unborn child, Ellie getting older, slowing down, becoming bed-ridden and eventually passing. All told, its about 10-12 minutes of the movie?? Maybe??
The "dealing with infertility" is about 90 seconds. If you are someone who has dealt with a loss like that, yes, it will be upsetting. It shows them setting up a crib, then crying in the doctor's office...with a musical soundtrack and no dialogue. But honestly, it's not like its the major theme of the movie.

It seems like no one is mentioning the whole other part of the movie... them dragging the house across the canyon in South America, the bird and the dogs, Carl meeting his hero who turns on him, the whole "adventure" part, and how the the good guys triumph over the bad guys and return home, safe and sound, changed for the better.

I thought it was good - not great. We saw the 2-D version because the nearest theater showing the 3-D was too far away that particular day. I would have liked to see Pixar do 3-D...I'm sure the animation and effects were terrific.
 
Of course, my child can "handle" anything too. My point is why? Just let kids be kids and stop inundating them with all the mature subject matter they deal with on a daily basis.


You are taking this WAY too personally!! I was talking about my kids, the sentence before of what you quoted, was about MY kids! Don't like it, don't see it, don't buy it, no one is forcing you!:rolleyes:
 
You are taking this WAY too personally!! I was talking about my kids, the sentence before of what you quoted, was about MY kids! Don't like it, don't see it, don't buy it, no one is forcing you!:rolleyes:

Ok, thanks! Have a great weekend everyone. I'm back to caring for my sick mom. Done with the thread.
 
I can finally open this thread now, I was avoiding it until I saw the movie. DH and I just got back from seeing it and we LOVED it. I had tears in my eyes at the end, but not sad tears, happy tears. I found the relationship with Carl and Russel to be so touching. I mentioned to DH on the way home how I had glimpsed at this thread and he said "how is that a downer?"

I agree about letting kids be kids. But to me that means not coddling them so much and protecting them from reality. Some of the subject matter in this movie is very real. Many kids deal with absent fathers. Kids like that can identify with Russel. And others can maybe see what their friends at school who don't have their dads around have to deal with. It's called life.
 
IMO, "Up" is NOT a good choice for very young kids! There were 2 little girls behind us (probably 3 and 5) who laughed all the way through the "short" feature about the clouds.

But they SOBBED during "Up". The villain went after Carl and Russell with a rifle -- very scary! He set fire to the house -- terrifying! Then the villain plunges to his death. Nice.

I felt the same way during "The Incredibles" -- when the villains were trying to kill Dash and Violet. It wasn't slapstick violence, either; it was scary and serious. My 4-year old hid her face through the whole thing.
 

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