Cute idea, but I hope they’re saving the good stuff for the movie because — at least from these bits — Dug isn’t as funny to me as the Pixar people seem to think he is. I’ll come out and say it: The visual humor look great, but the dialogue I’ve heard so far doesn’t seem to have the wit and sophistication of previous Pixar films. I fell in love with Remy and WALL•E on the basis of the previews and featurettes. I’m not falling in love with anybody in Up yet. In fact, the kid is seriously beginning to get on my nerves.
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UpComing
From film-releases.comNovember 20
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Twilight Saga: New Moon - Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, D: Chris Weitz, (Summit)November 25
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - Voices of George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, W: Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach, D: Wes Anderson
The Road - Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Director: John Hillcoat, (Weinstein Co.)
The Princess and the Frog-- Animated, Director: Ron Clements, John Musker, (Disney)November 27
Brooklyn's Finest -- Ethan Hawke, Richard Gere, Director: Antoine Fuqua, (Senator)
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee -- Robin Wright Penn, Julianne Moore, Winona Ryder, Blake Lively, Mike Binder, Keanu Reeves, W/D: Rebecca Miller, Screen MediaDecember 4
Brothers -- Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, W: David Benioff, D: Jim Sheridan, Lionsgate
Everybody's Fine --Robert DeNiro, Drew Barrymore, Director: Kirk Jones, (Miramax)December 11
The Lovely Bones -- Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Saoirse Ronan, Director: Peter Jackson, (Paramount)
Invictus --Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Director: Clint Eastwood, Warner Bros.December 18
Avatar -- Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Director: James Cameron, Fox
Nine -- Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Marion Cotillard, Director: Rob Marshall, The Weinstein Co.December 25
Sherlock Holmes -- Robert Downey, Jr., Rachel McAdams, Director: Guy Ritchie, Warner Bros.December 30
The White Ribbon -- Susanne Lothar, ulrich Tukur
W/D: Michael Haneke
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26 Responses for "Up’s Dug, the talking dog"
I don’t know, I think it looks funny, sweet, and action-packed. Can’t wait!
I don’t mean to come down on Dug the dog. I’d probably rather spend time with him than with Carl or Russell.
For all Pixar’s genius, “funny” isn’t their strong point. The Toy Story movies had a lot of humor. Finding Nemo has the single funniest performance of any Pixar film. But the more they try to go cute and sweet (Cars), the more I want to wake up from a bad dreamworks.
I think I liked Dug enough that it actually finally convinced me on Up and I had to stop watching the featurette. I’m sold.
To this point, I was pretty shaky on the whole thing and I say that as a guy who is pretty much in the tank for Pixar. The concept, the characters, the trailer…none of it really got me going, but the damn dog got me.
I don’t know though, we’ll see.
yeah, I picked the wrong featurette to come out about my own misgivings, cj. It’s the funniest thing we’ve seen so far (but that still worries me).
We need to get one of those thought-translation collars for Joaquin Phoenix.
I already know who my favourite Up character will be and it’s definetely the prehistoric bird. It doesn’t need to talk to be funny… XD
Ryan – You’re awesome man, but you know what I rather have to grade a movie than the trailer or featurette?
The fucking movie, that’s what.
Anyway, PIXAR has a proven track record. Hell even the one most agree to their weakest in CARS….that’s still on par with everyone else (i.e. fuck you Dreamworks) trying to be Pixar. You could do a hell lot worse.
Cars is probably the weakest in humor. I agree. It tried to make too many references. But even then, Pixar has a 8-1 ratio on the humor in their films. Thats still pretty damn good and when none of that isn’t any stupid Dreamworks innuendo jokes, thats saying a lot.
Perhaps Disney should show more of the emotional content we have heard of? I don’t usually agree with the marketing of Pixar films. I have to admit that I found little appeal in the last four of the trailers for their films.
At any rate, Pixar surprises all the time and I’m sure they will with this. I am getting annoyed with the frequent use of dogs, though. First BHC then Bolt, now this? Well, at least Dug is pretty funny. And cute!
Except for WALL•E, I have never been grabbed by Pixar’s movies’ trailers. Dug is totes adorbs though. My hopes are still up for the movie to impress me!
“… I’d rather have to grade a movie than the trailer or featurette”
Me too. But the featurettes are what we’ve got, and the featurettes are what I’m reviewing. I’m just saying the featurettes last year for WALL•E really had me excited. These for Up have got me down.
If this is supposed to be the funniest Pixar pic in years, then I wonder why I’m not laughing. If they’re saving the funny stuff for the movie, fine. But then why serve up featurettes that give a corny impression? I’m commentiing on what they’re showing us, that’s all.
Dug gives me a bit of Danny Devito vibe.
Wall-E has set up the bar very high. Even if it doesn’t meet those standards it’ll still be a great movie. At least, I am hoping.
Dug’s wide-eyed eagerness also reminds me of Tina Fey in 30 Rock saying, “I-want-to-go-there,” in blissed-out anticipation (and seeming to lose 40 IQ points.)
It’s a line she says she stole from her 3-year-old daughter, so maybe Up is an attempt to counter a complaint we heard about Ratatouille and WALL•E: little kids were bored.
Humor is the most subjective of qualities, so maybe it’s just me. I’m not 3, so maybe I’m not the target audience. I’m not giving up hope, guys. Just expressing a presonal feeling of unease I have over the simplistic dialogue. (”I’ve never been in a floating house before.”)
If there’s emotional involvement with these human characters, I’m not feeling it from the featurettes. Dug looks like he’d be fun to party with, but I’d want to know where the OFF switch is on that collar.
They seem to be banking on the kid’s cuteness as well. Everyone loves a chubby child but, with all the huffing and puffing he is dong, he better drop few pounds by the end. That band-aid thing isn’t really funny.
“I already know who my favourite Up character will be and it’s definetely the prehistoric bird. It doesn’t need to talk to be funny… XD”
Couldn’t agree with you more, Bernardo. That bird is just awesome, I laugh every time I see it.
Ryan,
What you’re forgetting is the reports of how UP supposedly opens up some rather depressing shit about the old man’s history.
Of course, Internet also claimed that Michael Bay is the Antichrist, so take that as you will.
http://www.traileraddict.com/clip/up/ditch-em
I don’t know about the featurettes guys but this scene from the film that David linked gives us a glimpse of just how cute and funny this film can be. I am excited and I know way too well now not to judge Pixar by their trailers and TV spots etc., I didn’t like any of the trailers of the previous films, not even Wall-E.
I’m looking forward, but i’m with Watermelons. The trailers for Pixar have never made me go gasp. But when I actually see them I usually do. Also about the little boy being annoying, I don’t think he’s nearly as annoying as Boo from Monsters Inc. I outright hated her and sighed with relief when her door was shredded, but then when Sulley could see her again…sigh. I must sound like a cold hearted bastard admitting that but, she annoyed the hell out of me! Maybe because she looked exactly like this bratty little girl I knew, but still. Any child in Pixar is better than her.
Just by watching the creators of “Up” discuss Dug the Talking Dog and how it is story about three characters finding redemption, made me really want to see the movie.
I see Dug the Dog becoming an iconic character in film industry. Great video.
Holy Moly, I loved the clip. I can’t wait to see this film. Thanks Ryan for having this out there for us to look at. Pixar’s last couple of outings have not rung my bell (was not a big fan of Walle), but the clip makes me look forward to Up.
That damn dog is a HOOT.
The film isn’t just cute and funny. I mean, it is very cute and funny (judging from the 45 minutes I’ve seen) but it is also built around a very emotional and human foundation. I’m extremely excited for it. Not only for the hilarity that is bound to ensue, but also the characters and interactions and story.
Looks like another Lasseter/Doctor offering from Pixar. Funny, sweet, not as good as their best. I understand that my tastes run contrary to most, but The Stanton/Bird films are just better.
1. Wall-E – Stanton
2. Finding Nemo – Stanton
3. The Incredibles – Bird
4. Ratatouille – Bird
HUGE DROPOFF
Toy Story
Cars
Monster’s Inc
Toy Story 2
A Bug’s Life
I really liked that clip, I thought Dug was funny. I don’t usually go to Pixar for big laughs, but their films always leave me with a big smile on my face and that clip was no exception. I hope it lives up to my standards. God, I’d sell my family into white slavery to work for Pixar.
Oscars. Best Animated picture. The Talented Mr. Fox.
limeymcfrog – TOY STORY movies are a big drop-off?
I’m sorry, but does anyone else think that the cowboy voice on the collar sound like Woody Harrelson? No? Just me? Ok.
[...] guy wasn’t particularly impressed by Dug in the previews, but here’s a nice featurette on the wonderful talking [...]
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