Thumbs Up to “Up”

For my 52nd birthday I went to the animated movie Up with Shelley and a couple of friends. What a marvelous birthday present!! People, you HAVE to see this show (and in the theaters, not on DVD, and in 3-D, not 2-D…the 3-D effects were incredible!) Second only to Slumdog Millionaire, this show was the most amazing thing produced in the last year.

The story is told with artistic brilliance, relying much more on facial expressions and subtle impressions to convey its message than on dialog. The humor is excellent (dog lovers will especially appreciate the hilarious dog-humor),  and the movie packs a huge emotional punch. This is one of those rare movies where you may find yourself laughing and weeping at the same time. (Those who thought they could never get choked up at an animated movie had better think again.)

But the most brilliant and entertaining aspect of this superb movie is the profound life-messages it delivers and the powerful way it delivers them. The “great adventure” you’re yearning for is the life you’re living right now, not the one you dreamed of living. You must let go of old adventures in order to embark on new ones. It’s the “boring” things in life that often matter most. Life always moves forward and if you hang too long to the past you’re dying. And dogs are adorable but, truth be told, sometimes not terribly bright.

Believe me, giving you this information did not in the least spoil the show. The real message is the one you’ll experience if you let this movie get under your skin.

So, I encourage you to pinch your pennies and get out to see this show. You might be surprised at how an animated flick can help you wake up to the adventure all around you.

Greg