Looking through the kitchen sliding glass door, Samuel and the squirrel eyed each other. Both waited for the other to blink.
Bored, the squirrel scampered off, snatching a fallen pecan for his cache of winter supplies.
Samuel sighed. This had turned out to be a disappointing day. The Daddy was home, and had said, “Hey, Buddy. Daddy’s gonna do some work on the computer. You stay put, okay?”
Stay put? The Daddy had fixed him up with a harness that was secured around his chest, tethered to the kitchen table.
Stay put? He could wander about six feet, and then The Daddy would say, “Buddy?”
While The Daddy killed Zombies on the computer in the dining room, Samuel gazed jealously at the squirrel that scurried around the backyard. If only, if only.
Samuel pressed his face against the glass door, watching as Ginger-the-fat-tabby soundlessly squeezed through the pet door. It was too small for Samuel.
This is a soulless existence. Samuel hung his head. I cannot endure such inhumanity. Inspired, Samuel focused his thoughts on the pet door and the squirrel.
The Daddy’s briefcase lay open on the chair. Phone, keys, papers—his for the taking. ‘Buddy this, big guy!’ Samuel decided.
Samuel retrieved the cell phone and shoved it cautiously through the pet door. The squirrel examined it. He snatched it up, scampered up the tree, and dropped it into the chasm of winter food.
Success! Samuel took the keys, clutching them in his moist chubby hand. No sound. Squirrel took them, ka-ching.
Papers? No problem. Flash Drive? Easy-peasy. Again and again, until all gifts were accepted.
Samuel looked at the nearly empty case. My job here is done. He lay down on the floor, giving the squirrel a sleepy smile. Hard work is always rewarded.
UP! is an animated movie about many things. The characters are an elderly man, Carl Fredrickson,
who has lost his wife, Ellie. They bonded together as children when they considered themselves to be explorers. Their life-long dream was to visit ParadiseFalls in the Lost Lands of South America. To that end, they saved up pennies, nickels, and all denominations of money in a jar. The jar had to be broken several times during their life to pay for disasters. Being unable to have children, they devoted themselves to each other and their dream: to travel
Carl and friends (squirre
to Paradise Falls.
Both worked at a local zoo, where Carl sold helium-filled balloons and Ellie taught children about animals. After Ellie dies and when Carl is threatened with eviction and a forced nursing home life, Carl inventively makes his house into one floating helium balloon, with thousands of balloons lifting his house off the foundation.
Unknowingly, Carl has a stow-away, Russell, a needy eight-year old scout who is trying to earn one last badge, “Helping an Old Person” to complete his scout sash.
Dug (squirrel!), Kevin with Russell, and Carl
Ultimately, they do make it to Paradise Falls, where they encounter hundreds of speaking dogs (who wear dog collars that translate ‘dog’ into English, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, and other languages.), and the dogs’ crazy owner, famed and disgraced explorer Charles Munts. During their wanderings, a dog named ‘Dug’ and an exotic bird (which Russell
names ‘Kevin’) befriend them. They are chased by the dogs and their maniacal alpha dog, a doberman pincher, whose speaking device is shorting out, making him speak with a helium voice.
Ed Asner is the voice of Carl, and is endearing throughout the character's growth (he looks like Spencer Tracy). Crazy Explorer Charles Munts has the velvet voice of Christopher Plummer (and looks like Kirk Douglas).
On his way
Okay, I understand that not everyone loves children movies as much as I do. The technology that goes into making these endearing films amazes me. Heck, I was also amazed by “Snow White”, so perhaps I am easily amazed. Art in any form grabs me, and feeds my soul. The unexpected twists and turns also delight me. So, there!
On a deeper level, UP! is about undying love, creating one’s own adventures, opening the adventure to someone who needs something to believe in, and to be believed in. It is about persevering and accomplishing a dream thought to be impossible.
