How to Make Up Even Sadder
Up doesn’t need any dark, twisted fan theories to make it an emotional movie. The first ten minutes of Up takes us through the 100 years of Carl’s life—the good, the bad, and the heartbreaking. After losing Ellie, he continues his life as a grumpy, stubborn old man who sends innocent an innocent Junior Wilderness Explorer to chase an imaginary bird.
However, viewers also would have noticed that Up is far too fantastical, even by Pixar’s standards. So, what’s going on? One theorist claims that on the night before Carl moves to the retirement home, he passes in his sleep. The entire adventure, his meeting with Russel and Charlez Munz and Doug and everyone else, is all in his mind. The entire movie is Carl’s final dream before he walks into the light.