Author: Alton Williams

Up 3D *****
Up 2D *****

2009 has been another huge year for computer animation, with most of the major animation studios having adopted 3D into the production and exhibition of their movies. But what everyone has really been waiting for is the release of Pixar’s first 3D movie (well not those of you in America who had this film back in May but us unlucky folk here in the UK) and now that wait is over with the long awaited release of Up, Pixar’s tenth feature length movie, which is already being touted by many as their best film yet. And given the outstanding quality of last year’s Wall-E, not to mention their consistent track record of excellence prior to that, this is certainly something to really recommend it. As with many Pixar the concept of Up is not one that seems obvious for a family animation – after all, a septuagenarian is not the typical focus of family flicks – but rather than being a fault this is once again a major strength in the film’s favour as everything points to yet another truly original piece of family fare from the animation studio that just keeps on wowing audiences the world over. Suffice to say that even without seeing the film I already knew exactly what I was going to rate Up so as far as writing this review is concerned seeing the film really was just a formality. Nonetheless, it was one thoroughly enjoyable formality.

Retired, widowed and grouchy, Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner) is a 78 year old ex-balloon salesman being forced to vacate the house he shared with his late wife. But rather than go quietly into a rest home, Carl plans to embark on a trip to South America, to a place where he always dreamed of visiting – Paradise Falls. And he plans to do this without even leaving his own front room! After Carl ties thousands of balloons to the roof, his house has lift-off and starts floating towards its destination. He’s not alone however, as over-eager Junior Wilderness Explorer, Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai), has inadvertently come along for the ride, much to Carl’s annoyance. But before long they’re sharing the adventure of a lifetime as they meet a talking dog (voiced by Bob Peterson), discover a rare flightless bird, called Kevin, and ward off dangerous enemy Charles Muntz (voiced by Christopher Plummer). Now all they have to do is find their way back home.

In the grand tradition of Pixar movies it was a given right from the moment it was first announced that Up would be another animation masterpiece from the masters of computer animation and the film doesn’t disappoint on any level. The animation lives up the high standard of excellence that we have come to expect from Pixar – a standard that is constantly soaring higher and higher – with spectacularly beautiful and life-like landscapes, adorable animals and brilliantly realized human characters – a major achievement considering that people can be notoriously difficult to animate well. And everything is so much better with the addition of the 3D, which is truly incredible, making an already amazing movie even more awe inspiring and showing that Pixar really know how to do 3D as well as 2D animation. The 3D doesn’t come out of the screen at any point, thus avoiding falling into gimmick territory, but it does make the entire experience much more realistic and immersive, so much so that you will really feel as if you are actually at Paradise Falls with Carl and Russell rather than just watching them on a screen. However, while the animation and 3D quality is undisputedly amazing, just like all Pixar movies what really makes the film so special is the storyline and the humour. The film provides laughs a plenty and they always come from genuinely heartfelt situations rather than gags or in-jokes – the kind of humour present in many other recent animated features. As we have come to expect this is a film that will be loved by moviegoers of all ages, from 5 to 105, and the story this time is one of Pixar’s most original and beautiful to date. Starting with a sweet, touching and moving montage which charts Carl from his childhood fantasy to become like childhood hero Charles Muntz through his first encounter with love of his life Ellie and their marriage followed by their life together and culminating in her tragic death (a scene which will bring tears to your eyes), the story is thoroughly engaging throughout, never letting up even for a second and the script, written by directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, provides a perfect balance that amuses, thrills (thanks to some excellent action adventure sequences) and moves you in a way that feels totally natural. Put simply, the mixture is one that works and it is hard not to fall in love with the charming tale and the characters who are living it. This is also helped by excellent voice work from the entire cast who, unlike quite a few other animated movies, are not big name stars per se but rather people who really do their characters justice, creating individuals that truly come to life and that we as viewers can really invest our emotions in. So, overall, Up is a film that will make you laugh, make you cry, put a twinkle in your eye and will you send your enjoyment level right up to the sky. And it is undoubtedly one of Pixar’s finest movies to date. Whether it is their best is entirely for you to decide (personally Wall-E is still number one) but regardless this is another true animation masterpiece and it doesn’t matter whether you see it in 3D or just in 2D, it is a masterpiece either way.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)

Love Happens **½

Movie trailers can be very deceptive, can’t they? Take Love Happens for example, a film which on the basis of the trailer looked to be a very promising and charming, if somewhat unoriginal, romantic drama that would be certain to leave moviegoers with a smile on their face and a tear in their eye. However, based on lacklustre reviews and box office (the latter being particularly notable considering that star Jennifer Aniston is usually a very reliable box office draw) it seems that this promise is not reflected in the film. Isn’t it amazing what a well cut trailer and a good soundtrack can do for the image of a film. Having read numerous comments from female viewers – the key demographic for the film, not a good sign – that nothing really happens in the film, I began to believe that all the negative comments from critics for the film may well be justified for once. Thus, I went into see the film with considerably lowered expectations. Could this film signal an end to Jennifer Aniston’s seemingly unending appeal with moviegoers? Quite possibly.



When a self-help author arrives in Seattle to teach a sold-out seminar, he unexpectedly meets the one person who might finally be able to help him help himself. Dr. Burke Ryan (Aaron Eckhart) is on the precipice of a major multimedia deal, but the therapist who asks his patients to openly confront their pain is secretly unable to take his own advice. Eloise Chandler (Jennifer Aniston) has sworn off men and decided to focus on her floral business. However, when she meets Burke at the hotel where he’s speaking, there is an instant attraction. But will two people who have met the right person at exactly the wrong time be able to give love another chance? As each struggles with the hurt of love and loss, they realize that in order to move forward, they need to let go of the past. And if they can, they’ll find that, sometimes, love happens when you least expect it.

Love Happens is a very disjointed piece of cinema. A key reason for this is the performances of its leading actors. Aaron Eckhart completely throws himself into his role, delivering a truly believable performance of a tortured soul struggling to move on with his life after the loss of the woman he loved, and in a sensational monologue at the climax of the film he is sure to bring you to tears. Jennifer Aniston, on the other hand, seems to be on cruise control for much of the film, failing to show much that resembles true emotion and thus failing to really engage us as viewers. Consequently, while the on screen relationship between the two isn’t completely devoid of chemistry, sparks are hardly flying between the two, thus making it somewhat difficult to truly care where the relationship between their characters is headed. The rest of the cast also aren’t much to speak of. Judy Greer plays the exact same best friend character she has played in countless other romcoms – although she is very amusing in the role, Dan Fogler merely gets the job done as Burke’s manager – although he at least isn’t irritating like in some of his past comic roles, and Martin Sheen is somewhat underused as the father-in-law of Burke’s deceased wife – even though he is entertaining while on screen. Despite a mixed bag in the acting department, the film isn’t all bad though. In fact, on occasions, it is actually very good. The cinematography is frequently beautiful, the storyline is honest and sincere, the messages of the film are moving and provoking, and there are several scenes that are quite excellent. It’s just a shame that the entire film cannot be of the same quality of these scenes are there is some genuinely good stuff on show here. Overall, Love Happens is a film that has distinct qualities that make it worth seeing, if only on DVD, but it is too slow paced and uneventful in places, and too lacking in the necessary emotional impact (with the exception of the climax anyway) that love just happens rather than enchants.

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Review by Robert Mann BA (Hons)