How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Up.
Quote #1
CARL: I believe I made my position to your boss quite clear.
CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN TOM: You poured prune juice in his gas tank.
CARL: Yeah, that was good.
Carl may be old, but he’s still mischievous.
Quote #2
CARL: You in the suit! Yes, you! Take a bath, hippie!
Carl’s lack of a filter makes it easy for him to stand up to the suits who are trying to bulldoze his house. Sure, his references may be outdated, but who cares? Carl turned that house into a home with Ellie, and he’s going to fight for it.
Quote #3
CARL: Tell your boss he can have our house.
CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN TOM: Really?
CARL: When I'm dead!
Let’s be real: When you’re older than most caves, you’re not going to cave under pressure. From anybody. It’s worth noting that he refers to it as “our” house, too. Carl’s not just standing up for himself, he’s standing up for Ellie.
Quote #4
RUSSELL: Are you in need of any assistance today, sir?
CARL: No.
RUSSELL: I could help you cross the street.
CARL: No.
RUSSELL: I could help you cross your yard?
CARL: No.
RUSSELL: I could help you cross your porch.
CARL: No.
RUSSELL Well, I gotta help you cross something.
CARL: Uh, no, I’m doing fine.
One of Carl’s secret weapons is his old man stubbornness. He may be on his own since Ellie died, but he’s not helpless, and it’s uber-important that he retains that.
Quote #5
POLICE OFFICER EDITH: Sorry, Mr. Fredricksen. You don't seem like a public menace to me. Take this. The guys from Shady Oaks will be by to pick you up in the morning, okay?
For Carl, the greatest blow he could suffer would be to have his independence stripped from him, and that’s exactly what would happen if he started crashing at Shady Oaks. Losing your independence is a huge issue for all old folks.
Quote #6
CARL: Morning, gentlemen.
NURSE GEORGE: Good morning, Mr. Fredricksen. You ready to go?
CARL: Ready as I'll ever be. Would you do me a favor and take this?
[Carl hands A.J. a suitcase.]
Carl: I'll meet you at the van in just a minute. I, uh, wanna say one last goodbye to the old place.
NURSE GEORGE: Sure. Take all the time you need, sir.
[Carl slams his door shut.]
NURSE AJ: That's typical. He's probably going to the bathroom for the 80th time.
NURSE GEORGE: You think he'd take better care of his house.
[Carl’s house takes off, hitting their van and setting its alarm off. A.J. and George scream.]
CARL: Ah, ha ha ha! So long, boys! I'll send you a postcard from Paradise Falls!
A.J.’s joke about Carl’s old dude bladder may be lame, but it reflects society’s view of the elderly. Turns out the joke’s on A.J., though. Carl’s not going out like that. He’s going up instead, outsmarting those young whippersnappers on the ground.
Quote #7
CARL: Can't tell where we are.
RUSSELL: Oh, we're in South America, all right. It was a cinch with my Wilderness Explorer GPS.
CARL: GP what?
RUSSELL: My dad gave it to me; it shows exactly where we are on the planet. With this baby, we'll never be lost!
[Russell accidentally throws the GPS unit out the window]
RUSSELL: Oops.
This conversation is funny, but it highlights the unlikely partnership between Carl and Russell: In his old age, Carl isn’t exactly up-to-date on the latest tech; Russell, in his youth, is careless. These two need each other to get by.
Quote #8
CARL: Russell, if you don’t hurry up, the tigers will eat you.
RUSSELL: There’s no tigers in South America. Zoology.
While Up mostly resists the well-worn movie cliché of kids being smarter than adults—especially older adults—here Russell gets the upper hand.
Quote #9
RUSSELL: You know what, Mr. Fredricksen? The wilderness isn’t quite what I expected.
CARL: Yeah? How so?
RUSSELL: It’s kinda… wild. I mean, it’s not how they made it sound in my book.
CARL: Get used to that, kid.
Another one of Carl’s tools is the wisdom that comes with being ancient. He’s seen things, man.
Quote #10
MUNTZ: Any last words, Fredricksen? Come on, spit it out!
[Carl spits out his dentures]
Old guy fight! Up’s portrayal of age is truly unique. It doesn’t just feature an old man hero; it sports an old guy villain, too. Their battle may be partially played for laughs, as their backs creak and their joints pop, but it doesn’t mean these two old dudes can’t duke it out.