Up

So finally Up makes it to British shores, only four and a half months after it debuted in the States. Of course it was an entirely commercial decision as its release coincides with the school holidays. Obviously someone at Disney somehow missed those seven weeks in July and August when school traditionally celebrates summer, and so this is an autumnal treat for us lesser people.

Anyway, bitching aside, was Up worth the wait?

You're damn right it was!

Now I realise that most people are probably fed up hearing reviewers wax lyrical about Pixar. They're probably sick of hearing about the incredible computer animation. They've probably had it up to here (I'm gesturing to my neck) hearing that they are the best storytellers working in mainstream cinema, animated or otherwise.

Sadly for you you're going to hear it all again. I'm sorry but it can't be helped.

You see Up is yet another incredible Pixar moment. The studio's down period of Cars and Ratatouille (and if that's your down period then, man, you're doing something right) has now been placed firmly behind them thanks to WALL.E and now this. After a couple of films that moved away from their tried and trusted buddy formula, Up sees it return. Only this time the buddies in question are a septuagenarian and a chubby boy scout. They team up after a mishap sees the latter, Russell, stuck in Carl's house, which has taken off for Venezuela after he attached hundreds of balloons to the roof. Add to the team a talking dog, thanks to a special collar that reads his thoughts, called Dug and an exotic bird called Kevin who looks like it should be found dancing at the back of a routine on the Muppet Show and you'll be starting to get why people go on so much about Pixar's creativity.

It's one of those films that works for all ages. The kids will love how colourful and funny the whole thing is. It looks stunning and the character designs are a charm. They'll love Dug, a ridiculously cute dog who thanks to his collar is able to articulate his thoughts. Sadly for a dumb dog they tend to involve squirrels and the fact that he's pointing at something. It's also very exciting, the house vs. blimp sequence is one of the best action scenes you'll see this year. It comes as no surprise that this comes from the same director as Monsters Inc., whose door factory sequence is one of Pixar's finest moments. For the grown ups it's very poignant and genuinely moving. At the heart of Up is a love story that transcends life and death and I defy anyone not to tear up at certain moments.

In fact Carl's story may be some of the finest writing to come from the studio. The opening sequence of the film is simply incredible, showing his life from small boy to old man in about five minutes. It also deals with some very adult issues about death and pregnancy. It's brave, but it makes Carl feel all the more real and in a story about an old man they are things that need to be addressed. Indeed only Pixar and Studio Ghibli would have the guts and the panache to pull off an elderly hero in what is meant to be a kids film.

Up is yet another triumph for a studio that seems to struggle to do things wrong. You may be sick of hearing it, but it really can't be helped. Pixar are the best filmmaking studio working today and Up is further proof. And if you don't laugh, cry and generally feel all warm and fuzzy then you're dead inside.

There, I said it!