La cita de Carl

I've not seen the dog days show, that can also be streamed at the moment. I assume the shorts we get there are of the same quality as this. Looking forward to watch them in the near future (they are on my never ending list). Talking of lists or trying to move on (I reckon one can say that without an intended pun, right?): Carl is finally moving on - well moving in (no pun intended here either).

If you have seen the movie (Up), you know the characters! One of the best beginnings ever captured on film - no matter if animated or "real". If you did not shed a tear or two (or more) watching that ... well it is almost impossible if you are a functioning human being not to. And like most humans, Carl is also trying to connect with others (again) ... with the help of his dog (I wrote god by accident ... or maybe it would have been another pun?) ... but how much does his dog know about dating? Exactly! A fun little short that is over before you know it ... with some interesting themes and topics (old age, forgetfulness, love, empathy and so much more) ... all packed in a short time ... Pixar, you did it again! And not by accident, so no oops needed.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, Pixar shorts were simple, understated, and, well...short. Sometimes they even had no dialogue, a charming throwback to the days where the theater's organ player had to do all the story's heavy-lifting.

"Carl's Date" is none of these things. It's overwritten, it tries too hard, and it's definitely too long. Credit where credit is due, Ed Asner does a fine job (Rest in Peace) and if you liked his performance in Up, you'll at least find this watchable. But it's far from one of the best Pixar has to offer. Give me "One Man Band" or "Geri's Game" any time. This? Not so much.

What a wasted opportunity to let Ed Asner's wonderful character from Up shine again.

Instead of showing us some more of the heart of this wonderful character in the hands of a talented actor in his last film role we get a barely anything story that manages to damage the glow of the original film, in that it shows Carl moving on from his lifelong devotion to his beloved wife of his entire life, for no apparent real reason. There is nothing in the original film to suggest Carl has any interest in ever giving his attention to anyone else and that was one of the core moments of beauty to it, true undying love.

I don't know what this short film thought it was doing but of all the things they could have used Asner for, this slight and unnecessary film was not a worthy full stop to a wonderful legacy.

Carl is surprised when Ms. Meyers asks him out on a date. He's even more surprised when he says yes. Dug has to help the conflicted Carl.

This was supposed to be part of the Dug Days show. Instead, it becomes the short accompanying Elemental. Apparently, it's one of the last performance of Ed Asner who died in 2021. That may result in the end of Dug Days or any more material for Carl. It deals with a big issue. The big takeaway from Up is the love story. This is Carl taking his first hesitant step in a new chapter. It has a lot of issues that come with that and I don't think a short has enough time to fully discuss them. Ultimately, the short feels short. We don't even get to meet Ms. Meyers.

"Carl" is a widower struggling to get back into the dating game following the death of his much loved wife. Fortunately, he has his savvy mutt "Dug" to help him choose his clothes and to generally get his mojo back - only this four-legged friend tends to think of things rather more in doggy terms than in human ones. It's a fun, short and sweet, glimpse at the couple and their interdependence and moves along nicely, if unremarkably, for a few minutes peppered with some enjoyable observational dialogue. It might well resonate better with dog owners/lovers who can probably appreciate the symbiosis here, perhaps not so much with others - but it is an OK little, nicely detailed, animation to watch.