Carl Fredericksen is a 78- year-old curmudgeon. He used to enjoy his modest life as a balloon seller when his adventure-loving wife Ellie was still alive. When she died, Carl was left with his memories and the awareness that they never made their dream journey to Paradise Falls in South America. When well-meaning officials consign Carl to Shady Oaks Retirement Home, he rigs thousands of helium balloons to his house and floats away, not realizing that Russell, a chubby Wilderness Explorer Scout is on the front porch. In the tropical jungle, Carl and Russell find more than they bargained for: Charles Muntz, a crazed explorer whose newsreels once inspired Carl and Ellie, Kevin, an exotic bird with a weakness for chocolate, and Dug, an endearing golden retriever fitted with a voice box. More importantly, Carl and Russell discover they need each other.