Pixar's UP

Pixar continues to surprise me. It seems that they are the only production company making intelligent family films. While companies like Disney, Dreamworks and Nickelodeon keep churning out the same old prescribed "kiddy crack", as I like to call it, Pixar is more interested in telling well rounded stories that are subtly complex. Now I know Pixar is a subsidiary of the Disney corporation, but I count them as a separate creative entity from the abomination that Disney has become.

After sitting through Pixar's latest film, UP, I have no doubt that they are one of the last remaining beacons of hope in the family entertainment industry. Now I have always been a fan of family films that didn't pander to it's target audience and UP succeeds in that. Why should parents suffer through a film just to keep their children entertained. I think for a family film to truly be successful, everyone has to be able to enjoy some aspect of it...actually that goes for any film. Nevertheless, I feel like the plenitude of family targeted entertainment out there is sugar coated nonsense. So while the kids sit entranced by the bright colors and the lowbrow humour, killing off precious new neurons, the parents sit by awkwardly grinding there teeth through the torture.

What ever happened to the daring family entertainment of years back. I don't think a film like The Never-Ending Story or a TV show like The Adventures of Pete and Pete would ever have a chance today. Instead, what we get in return is pre-pubescent teens selling ignorance and empty promises to the children of tomorrow.

Ok, so my intention was to do a review of UP, but I got sidetracked and got up on my soap box instead. Either way, I think its because a film like UP reminded me of a time where I could go to a family film and enjoy it, as opposed to being annoyed by it.