Carl is accidentally joined on the journey by a young scout, Russell, who is trying to earn an Explorer badge by helping the elderly. Their relationship is funny – Carl acts the curmudgeon to Russell’s naïve earnestness. Their interactions are laced with familiar and funny incidents such as Carl suggesting the “let’s see who can keep quiet the longest” game and a whining kid, literally at the end of his rope asking, “Are we there yet?” The two brave a storm in their floating house and actually end up in Paradise Falls, where they happen upon a talking golden retriever named Dug and an exotic colorful bird, who Russell names Kevin. They also meet up with Muntz, who by now is a crazed man trying to recapture his glory days by hunting the elusive bird that brought about his downfall and that now so easily follows Carl and Russell.
Pixar’s depiction of Carl and Muntz is one of the factors that drives the film. Skillfully voiced by Ed Asner as Carl and Christopher Plummer as Muntz, they look on the screen like Spencer Tracy and Kirk Douglas. It lends a feel-good air of familiarity to the golden age of films with the iconic vision of Tracy as a sweet, but grumpy old man, and the menace of a towering Douglas, who could be both charming and threatening at the same time.
The 3-D effects also added to my enjoyment of the film. I was not annoyed in the least by having to wear the 3-D glasses, which had a sort of Elvis Costello feel to them. And I loved the feeling that I was viewing the film through the lens of a View-Master, a beloved, old childhood toy. The animation is beautifully colored and enhanced by the 3-D effect.
Article comments
1 - logtar
Excellent movie, Excellent review. You are spot on! (squirrel)
2 - cindyc
Thank you. I loved this movie.
3 - Z. Nason
youre incredibly accurate with your desription of the film and were spot on, but why are you kind of cynical to the next generation? Because there are plenty of intelligent well minded kids. Plus every generation I believe autonomously argues that the next generation is one of more pride and arrogance through scientific, cultural, etc advancements. yeah every generation indeed does have it possibly much easier than the predecessor, but you seem to kind of just dislike younger people. Also, is it wrong for movies to have allusions to modern cultural Icons, addressed to a younger generation? Nonetheless you are a great movie reviewer and I think you were perfect at describing the movie.