The Megaplex Theatres hosted a seven-film, 15-hour marathon of Pixar films on Feb. 29 in Salt Lake City.
The marathon kicked off with “Toy Story” and finished with “Onward,” the newest Pixar film.
Below you will find plenty of my thoughts from throughout the marathon.
8:47 p.m. — ‘Onward’
“Onward” felt a little different than other Pixar films. It’s not within the wider Pixar universe so you don’t see any connections to Pizza Planet or Toy Story or anything like that. But it still felt like a perfect Pixar film because it did something that they all do — it shared themes and messages of love between family members.
Themes of trust, believing in yourself and your family, and how to brave stormy weather were rampant throughout the film.
For me, the film especially hit home because it touches on two brothers who go on a quest to see their father. Like the main character Ian, I didn’t really know my father, so the quest to find him and share moments with him were surely ones that I could identify with. It’s an interesting scenario that comes up in my life — as it does for so many others — about what you would do with just one day with your father. And, as this film explores, sometimes there are other people who are there to raise you instead of the late parent. We must honor those who raised us.
“Onward” isn’t my favorite Pixar film nor is it the best one. But it’s a feel-good picture with some solid laughs. It’s worth a watch for fans of Chris Pratt, Tom Holland and the fantasy genre. And it’s good for those who want to celebrate the loved ones who raised them.
6:12 p.m. — ‘Up’
OK. It is hard to think of a better opening to a movie than what happened in “Up.” Those opening eight minutes will make you weep and really take you for a wild ride. Beautifully done.
“Up” is a beautiful film with excellent writing and an amazing score. And it does what so many of the good Pixar movies do — it blends the right amount of realism with absurdity, bringing a unique picture together.
It also pushes the idea that you can’t ever go it alone. You need to develop a community and strong partnerships to do good in the world. Just do. Do the work that befalls before you and the good things will happen.
4:23 p.m. — ‘WALL-E’
WALL-E has a lot to dissect and a lot to talk about. But there’s no doubt that the opening 15 minutes are slow and it takes a little bit to get into it. I drifted off to sleep for a part of it. The second half is really strong and definitely hammers home the message that we need to work together to help the planet.
That said, it felt a little sad watching a movie about people sitting in chairs while drinking soda ... while sitting in chairs and drinking soda. People used to send me GIFs of “WALL-E” during previous marathons and now I know why.
My hands are super buttery right now. More soda on tap, though. Let’s keep going!
2:31 p.m. — ‘Ratatouille’
Wow. I forgot how good of a film this is. Seriously. It seems strange to be excited about a film about a rat that can cook. But it does a good job of blending the absurd with the realistic. The music is swift, too. One of the best soundtracks of Pixar films out there.
Most importantly, it is a warm film. Like a good home-cooked meal, you appreciate it with a sense of familiarity and hopefulness. It’s not the best Pixar movie. But it’s one to watch when you need to feel at peace.
That said, there seems to be an onion smell developing in the theater. People got a little testy by the soda machines, too. Spilled drinks. What a wild time.
12:09 p.m. — A quick update
Just a note — I’ve had one bucket of popcorn and four sodas (diet cream soda with strawberry, two Diet Dr. Peppers).
There has also been a few people coughing while inside the theater which has me nervous, especially with the worries of coronavirus. Seriously.
12:03 p.m. — ‘Finding Nemo’
It’s hard to find a movie with more perfect writing than “Finding Nemo.” The movie still slaps more than 15 years later. The witty dialogue, the clever character differences between different sea animals and the excellent way it all ties together at the end. Find me a more perfect movie. I dare you.
“Finding Nemo,” to me, represents Pixar at its earliest peak. It showed how great this series of films can be. And it was an excellent way to finish the first half of this marathon.
Now, we’re onto “Ratatouille,” “WALL-E,” “Up” and then, finally, “Onward.” These are all newer films that are less O.G. than “Nemo,” “Toy Story” and “Monsters, Inc.” Let’s see how they stack up.
10:06 a.m. — ‘Monsters, Inc’
I gotta admit. I fell asleep for a little bit during the movie. The jokes weren’t landing and the early time of the marathon finally got to me.
But I was struck at how well “Monsters, Inc.” links up with “Toy Story.” The cloudy wallpaper, the toy ball and some other small nods connect the two films (even that post-credit scene). There’s also a “Finding Nemo” reference right after. That all speaks to the beauty of Pixar to connect its films. It’s not a Marvel Cinematic Universe thing, but it’s pretty close. I love seeing how these films can blend together so well.
And, like ““Toy Story” and “Onward” later, this film was an adventure story of two friends working together. It definitely sets the tone for what’s to come.
8:32 a.m. — ‘Toy Story’
“Toy Story” was the first film in the marathon. It felt weird watching it again after seeing it during the “Toy Story 4” marathon late last year.
The beauty of “Toy Story” is that it often includes little references to pop culture events and figures without actually directly referencing them. For example, in Pizza Planet, there’s a Whac-A-Mole game that includes an astronaut with aliens popping out of his body — a clear reference to “Alien.” It’s a subtle but clever Easter egg that is something Pixar pulls off so well.
“Toy Story” was the perfect film to kick off this marathon. It’s familiar, funny and fantastic. It gives the audience a sense of calm so we can all settle in and prepare for what’s next.