Deconstructing Disney

Author: Rachel Casey, Erin Casey

Two life-long Disney fans take on the Disney film catalog, beginning with the animated features, and discuss with a critical lens. New episodes the first Tuesday of every month. @DeconDisney on social media.
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Language: en

Genres: Film History, Film Reviews, TV & Film

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Up
Episode 61
Wednesday, 3 September, 2025

Episode SummaryErin and Rachel wallow through an elderly man’s grief journey with Pixar’s critically acclaimed Up (2009). They argue the beautiful art and cute sidekicks aren’t enough to redeem this (admittedly beloved) film, especially since the (admittedly moving) love story invokes the classic “dead wife” trope. We’ll keep sailing our balloon house onto the next one, please and thank you. Episode BibliographyAdler, S. (2008, August 7). 'Up' And Coming: 3-D Pixar Movie Tells A 'Coming Of Old Age' Story, Director Says. MTV. https://web.archive.org/web/20100318060539/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1592302/story.jhtmlThe Associated Press. (2009, May 12). Q&A: Pete Docter. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/qampa-pete-docter-83783/Berardinelli, J. (2009, May 26). Up (United States, 2009). ReelViews. https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/upBlock, A. B. (2009, November 17). Anatomy of a Contender: ‘Up’. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/anatomy-contender-91440/Brooks, X. (2009, March 19). Curtain will go Up on this year's Cannes with 3-D yarn | Cannes 2009. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/mar/19/up-first-animation-to-open-cannes-film-festivalChen, D. (2009, May 28). Marketing Up's Asian-American Lead Character. SlashFilm. https://www.slashfilm.com/503927/marketing-ups-asian-american-lead-character/Coconut Press. (2023, August 16). The Making of Up: Pixar Travels to Venezuela 4k. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXCHlcrMgLYCorliss, R. (2009, May 7). Going Up. TIME. https://web.archive.org/web/20090513203932/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1896685-1,00.htmlCorliss, R. (2009, May 28). Up, Up and Away: Another New High for Pixar. Time Magazine. https://time.com/archive/6688401/up-up-and-away-another-new-high-for-pixar/Docter, P. (Director). (2009). Up [Film]. Pixar Animation Studios.DVDFilmBonus. (2023, July 16). Up 2009 ( Pixar ) Making of & Behind the Scenes. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPQuzPm73foErikson E.H., & Erikson, J.M. (1982). Life cycle completed. W.W. Norton & CompanyFreer, I. (2009, October 3). Up. Empire Online. https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/movie-2-review/Hartlaub, P. (2009, May 27). Oakland's Fentons Creamery in Pixar film 'Up'. SFGate. https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Oakland-s-Fentons-Creamery-in-Pixar-film-Up-3297072.phpHauser, T. (2016). The Art of Up. Chronicle Books LLC.Hogan, R. (2009, June 1). Pixar’s Up review. Den of Geek. https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/pixars-up-review-2/Horn, J. (2009, May 10). up, up and away. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-10-ca-up10-story.htmlHornaday, A. (2009, May 29). Up. The Washington Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20091027073954/http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/up,1156226.htmlKhoo, I. (2015, July 13). Pregnancy Loss: The Surprising Movie That Understands Miscarriage. HuffPost Canada. https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/pregnancy-loss-the-surprising-movie-that-understands-miscarriag_n_7786224King, S. (2009, May 28). Jordan Nagai, 'Up'. Los Angeles Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106123435/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/28/entertainment/et-jordanpete28The Korean Face of Pixar's Latest Star. (2009, June 3). The Chosun Daily. https://www.chosun.com/english/people-en/2009/06/03/NXQOOEMZNUTRQNAZ7NTDTTGBUU/Ksieh, K. (2009, May 29). Jordan Nagai as Russell in UP. Channel APA. https://web.archive.org/web/20121110102130/http://www.channelapa.com/2009/05/jordan-nagai-as-russell-in-up.htmlMedia Action Network for Asian Americans. (2009, September 2). ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA WATCHDOG GROUP PRAISES DISNEY/PIXAR'S "UP" FOR CREATING ASIAN AMERICAN PROTAGONIST. MANAA. https://web.archive.org/web/20090902105114/http://www.manaa.org/up_press_release.htmlMeinel, D. (2014). Empire is out there!?: The spirit of imperialism in the Pixar animated film ‘Up’. Traces. NECSUS. https://necsus-ejms.org/empire-spirit-imperialism-pixar-animated-film/#_edn12Meinel, D. (2016). Pixar’s America. Palgrave MacMillan. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-31634-5_7Morgenstern, J. (2009, May 14). Reaching for the Sky, 'Up' Fails to Soar - WSJ. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124226358415817813Piane, C. (2010, April 9). EWP Honors Pixar Films And Jordan Nagai At 44th Anniversary Visionary Awards 4/19. Broadway World. https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/EWP-Honors-Pixar-Films-And-Jordan-Nagai-At-44th-Anniversary-Visionary-Awards-419-20100409Press Release. (2009, November 8). Interview: Pete Doctor on Disney/Pixar’s UP. Major Spoilers. https://web.archive.org/web/20100208140509/http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/27376.htm/Rechtshaffen, M. (2009, May 12). Up - Film Review. The Hollywood Reporter. https://web.archive.org/web/20120315171219/http://www1.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/up-film-review-1003972156.storySchilling, V. (2019, September 15). Boy Scouts ‘have been one of the worst culprits’ of cultural appropriation. ICT. https://ictnews.org/news/boy-scouts-have-been-one-of-the-worst-culprits-of-cultural-appropriation/Tell Me More Staff. (2013, September 9). Angry Asian Man Not So Angry : Code Switch. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/09/09/219725276/angry-asian-man-not-so-angryUp (2009 film). (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_(2009_film)Wooden, S.R., & Gillam, K. (2014). Pixar’s boy stories: Masculinity in a postmodern age. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Young, S. (2020, January 16). Exploring the dead wives in family movies trope. Nerdist. https://nerdist.com/article/dead-wives-family-movies-dolittle/Zacharek, S. (2009, May 29). Up. Salon. https://www.salon.com/2009/05/29/up_review/