"Up" Is Kind Of A Downer

Pixar's latest film "Up" is a downer. Any time other patrons are openly weeping it's a sign the film is tilting toward the depressing side. I was disappointed.

I'm not alone, as can be witnessed here, here, here and here.

Most problematic, for me, was my mistaken belief "Up" was a movie for children. At the time, I didn't realize the film was rated PG, so that's my fault. But, I had help. The trailers heavily promoted the fun, daring and quirky expedition theme involving Carl and Russell, the two main characters whose friendship must span a 70-year gap. But the trailers gave no hint to the movie's dark interconnected themes of loss, failed dreams, bitter righteousness and evil so sinister and blinding as to corrupt an intelligent, respected but apparently egoist adventurer.

The movie's lessons and animation are outstanding, as is typical for Pixar. But like the studio's early Red's Dream short, it's reminscent of an admitted Blue period.

Disney and Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lassiter has famously joked that Red's Dream was popular in Europe. No doubt, "Up" is likely to prove successful overseas, too, as it deserves to in the states as well. But make no mistake, Pixar's latest film is no lighthearted tale of friendship and expedition. Like with Wall-E, Pixar's creative team is intent on presenting complex life lessons, some of which are already all to real to many adults.