The excitement surrounding Up has been building for some time. It first began back in 2008 when a few lucky journalists were treated to a sneak peak of the now legendary, opening montage sequence. Then in May this year, it premiered at the Cannes Film festival and the response wasn't just good – it was outstanding. Jump forward to October 2009 when the film is finally realised and while it doesn't fail to live up to the hype, it doesn't blow you away either.

Carl Fredricksen (Asner) is your typical, bad-tempered old man. He lives alone (preferring empty rooms to the company of others), doesn't interact much with the people around him and above everything else, he hates kids. But he has reason to, as he recently lost the love of his life and childhood sweetheart, Ellie. Junior Wilderness Explorer Russell (Nagai) is the complete opposite and the enthusiastic, keen and excitable 8-year-old is everything Carl dislikes. They meet when Russell comes knocking on Carl's front door with the intention of securing his final Wilderness Explorer badge – Assisting the Elderly. But Carl's having none of it as he is far too busy tying 1000 balloons to his house so he can finally set off on a lifelong trip to South America. But when Russell becomes a stowaway the pair embark on an unlikely adventure and what starts off as an nuisance soon becomes Carl's best friend.

Up starts off brilliantly and yes the opening montage sequence of Carl meeting Ellie, the couple getting married, them losing their baby and her eventual death is very sad. However not everyone in the room (including myself) was in the expected floods of tears. Carl after Ellie's death becomes an incredibly empathy character and it's surprising how a senior citizen being irritable and grumpy can be so evoke such sympathy and understanding. When Carl meets Russell the dynamics of their relationship prove enjoyable but when the pair finally reach South American and begin on their treacherous journey the films begins to lose its appeal. It falls into a customary pattern of 'evil mastermind with a criminal plan chasing innocent good guys as they try to get home', but we've seen this before. It's not so much that it doesn't work but it seems a disappointing end in comparison to the unique and unusual beginning.

Having watched the film in digital 3D the effects are some of the best I have seen and at parts during the movie you see the characters and locations literally come off the screen. Directors Docter and Peterson have chosen to only use 3D when it fits in the story and this works perfectly, creating a seamless transition between the scenes with and without 3D. The music of the film also plays an essential role and it accompanies the subsequent emotion and sentiment wonderfully.

It would appear that much of the anticipation surrounding this film is down to its animation and as far as 3D animations go, it is definitely up there. However the story itself doesn't meet my expectation making Up a good film, but if not an amazing one.