Up Up and Away

Warwick Marsh
Fatherhood Foundation Newsletter - January 2010

The latest animation from Pixar, 'Up', certainly captured the hearts of many people around the world when it was released in May 2009. It became the Number 4 film in domestic box office sales in the USA and Number 37 in gross domestic box office sales on a worldwide basis for all time. To put it in perspective, 'Up' beat Casino Royale, The Incredibles and even Star Wars Episode II.

Why would a simple story about a 78 year old balloon salesman, Carl Fredricksen, and an over eager 8 year old Wilderness Explorer Scout, named Russell, be so successful?

Even the usually sarcastic Rotten Tomatoes site gave 'Up' a 98% rating. Here are some comments:

Pure joy and one of the best films of the year. You gotta have a good story and this one is a gem. It even made me a bit misty-eyed. Good stuff from Pixar.

One of Pixar's most emotionally satisfying creations.

With critiques like that, we just had to hire 'Up' while on holidays, and then we just had to buy our own copy to keep in the family. Yes 'Up' is an animation. Yes 'Up' is a rollicking adventure but 'Up' also addresses the importance of fathers, grandfathers and even marriage in a child's life. The fact that 'Up' went to Number 4 in fatherless America shows that it struck a deep chord with its multi-faceted fatherhood and true love story line.

Halfway through the film we start to get to the point: Carl Fredricksen and 8 year old Russell are sitting by the fire, deep in the dangerous jungles of South America after Russell tries to erect a tent with catastrophic results. Carl, who has never experienced being a father himself, asks Russell, "Didn't you ask your Dad how to build a tent?" Russell nonchalantly replies, "I don't think he wants to talk about this stuff."

The conversation continues:

Carl: Why don't you ask him sometime? Maybe he will surprise you.

Russell: He's away a lot. I don't see him much.

Carl: He's got to be home sometimes.

Russell: Well I called, but Phyllis told me I bug him too much.

Carl: You call your own mother by her first name?

Russell: Phyllis isn't my mother.

Carl: Oh . . .
Long pause.

Russell: But he promised he would come to my Explorer Ceremony to pin on my 'Assisting the Elderly' Badge, so he can show me about tents then.

The shot pans to the space reserved near his heart on the sash across Russell's chest that holds all his Wilderness Explorer badges. There is a long pause as Carl Fredricksen realises at last what is going on in this young boy.

The above scene gives an idea of the core theme of this movie and why it is so popular in fatherless America, where up to 35% of children live in a home without their father present. In many other homes dad is around, but his time and attention are elsewhere.

The film climaxes at the end of the movie when 78 year old grumpy Mr Fredricksen IS present to help pin Russell's special award to his chest at the Wilderness Explorer Ceremony. It is hard not to shed a tear when the Scoutmaster asks who is in attendance to support Russell. Mr Fredricksen proudly announces, "I'm here for him."

Lovework

This is the question every 8 year old is asking: "Who is here for me?"

It is the question that makes every father and grandfather important.

Watch the movie yourself if you don't believe me, but more importantly let's be there for our children.

Yours for going UP
Warwick Marsh

PS The indomitable Mrs Marsh makes her point in All You Need is Love this week. You see, Up is also a love story, making it even more powerful. On special this week at Kmart I believe.