HOW THE MOVIE "UP” INSPIRES - Follow My Yellow Brick Road

Have you ever watched a movie and been so taken back by its message? You went into watching it with no expectations besides some entertainment. And then, bam! You are engaged and hooked. Emotions run high. You want to watch more. And you continue thinking about it long after your first viewing. This is exactly what the movie “Up” did for me. Why? because the movie “Up” delivers so many important messages and inspires the power of travel.

I saw this movie for the first time shortly after it came out. And to this day, it continues to resonate with me in such a big way. I watched it again this past weekend and couldn’t take my eyes away from the screen. And although it’s targeted at kids, this movie is for adults. Why? Because so many of its messages resonate with life experiences.

A Story Summary

In the beginning, we meet Carl and Ellie Fredricksen as kids. He’s relatively shy and serious. Ellie, on the other hand, is a joyful little girl who eagerly inducts him into a club of two. Ellie talks a mile a minute about her dream of living in South America.

Then there is a quick montage of pics of their future — with a flash of a camera at their wedding, their first kiss, and how they fix up the house where they met so that it matches Ellie’s childhood drawing. They start a spare change jar to pay for Ellie’s dream trip to Paradise Falls.

One of their favorite hobbies is watching clouds and in one scene, Carl points to a cloud that looks like a baby.

They decide to have a child and prepare a nursery, And this is where the movie gets serious. Ellie suffers a miscarriage and is unable to have children.

And then all their dreams of visiting Paradise Falls evaporate. The spare change jar is used for other unexpected life events, like house repairs and a broken leg.

When she falls ill, Carl goes to the travel agent to fulfill his promise to get her to Paradise Falls. But it’s too late. Ellie dies.

Carl is now alone, and what makes matters worse, he’s being forced out of his home by a developer that has bought up all the houses around him. He’s the last holdout. In addition, the old age home is knocking at his door to take him away. Then a young boy scout named Russell knocks on their door.

And this is when the movie takes off, as well as his house, which is attached to a bunch of balloons.

This movie teaches its viewers so much about life, starting with …

THE POWER OF LOSS & ENDURING LOVE

Ellie left an indelible impact on Carl. He wanted to explore the world and to open his heart and mind to adventures. Without Ellie, this dream evaporated. But that was soon about to change.

THE POWER OF RESILIENCE

Carl will not give up his house, as well as his independence.

THE POWER OF ADVENTURE AND EXPLORATION

Ellie was Carl’s inspiration for adventure. The viewer meets her while Carol is looking through her “adventure diary.” She was the one who wanted to travel the world, and he happily joined her on the journey, even though their dream of traveling together never came true.

And isn’t this true for so many people? We put off our vacations and adventures for a later date. Many times, it’s too late. No matter how big or small, get out and explore.

THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP

Enter Russell, the Boy Scout who shows up on his door. And with this young man, Carl set out on an adventure like they never expected.

Russell is the young boy, fresh-faced and just so sweet you want to reach into the screen to hug him. His interactions with grumpy Carol and Kevin, the female tropical bird he befriends are magical and so touching.

THE POWER OF EVIL

The one and only Christopher Lee is the voice behind the character, Charles Muntz, the man hunting Kevin (the tropical rare bird) and does it to perfection. We all encounter evil or bad people in life. And it’s those around us who love and support us who help combat their influence.

THE POWER OF MENTORING

Through the friendship he develops with Russell, Carl finds a new outlook on life. This young boy helps Carl recalibrate his life and find purpose once again. And when Russell receives special badges at a Boy Scout ceremony, it is Carl who awards them to Russell, not Russell’s father.

THE PERFECT ENDING

The movie ends with a shot of Paradise Falls. And the heartwarming part is that Carl’s house has landed in the spot overlooking the falls, exactly where Ellie pictured it.

As the credits roll, the viewer sees that Carl has started a new adventure book detailing his life. He is settling into retirement while spending lots of time with Russell.