Mini-Review: There's nothing subtle or subversive about this film. Rather than providing the audience an opportunity to process the horrors in front of them, this movie hurls everything before our eyes to wring out our sadness and empathy. What could have been a beautifully delicate story is instead an overwrought schmaltzfest with a terribly clunky ending. A movie should earn its tears, not manipulate them.

Mini-Review: Up has two moments of intense poignancy so well-executed just thinking about them can instigate fresh tears. This adds surprising depth to a deceptively simple narrative. Yes the movie gets a bit slow in the middle with a few silly plot twists but the gorgeous visuals and the loveable characters retain your attention. At its most basic level, Up is a fun kids movie. At its best, it's a touching non-didactic call-to-arms to continue moving forward with life and embrace the unexpected.

Mini-Review: Awful vapid drivel that plays to the ugliest materialistic whims of my sex. We are supposed to squeal when we see the walk-in closet and cameos of countless superfluous designer items. I felt insulted as a female and as a fan of the original show that this movie was made with such witless vulgarity full of endless product placement, racism and toilet jokes. I like fluffy chick flicks but I lament this trash because it is the turgid waste byproduct version of a clever and FUNNY tv counterpart.