Date Released: 2006
Theatrically Released Alongside: Ratatouille in 2007
The way a story concludes is important, representing a sum up of morals, overarching themes, and arguably most important, how the audience departs from the tale. When it comes to books, film, theatre, TV and shorts, there’s a particular favoritism in how I enjoy stories to end. At the top stands the bittersweet ending, followed by the happy ending, and lastly with the sad, depressing and/or cruel ending. Red’s Dream is an example of the latter, ending on a sad and depressing note. Likewise One Man Band, which I overall enjoyed, lost some favor due to its unexpectedly mean-spirited conclusion. Lifted, conversely, ends on a surprisingly sweet note, mixed together with a comically entertaining story.
Lifted follows Stu, a foolhardy young alien trying to get his abduction license (an already entertaining premise) under the supervision of Mr. B—a large, gelatinous examinee. Stu’s goal is to abduct a farmer, using a hilariously unreasonable amount of buttons in the UFO. Comedy ensues as Stu tries, and fails, to abduct what has to be the most durable, soundest sleeping farmer in the world. Stu fails his test, forcing Mr. B. (using amazing speed and skill) to set everything right for the farmer. Noticing Stu’s dejection, a slightly reluctant Mr. B. gives the scamp a chance to fly the UFO back home—immediately cheering Stu up as he confidently launches into space…and then crashes right onto the farmer’s house (crushing everything but the still sleeping farmer). Lifted is a more comedic example of a bittersweet ending: Stu fails his test, yet his spirit remains—the farmer’s house is destroyed, but at least he got a good night’s sleep (oh, and is also still alive). Combined with its comically entertaining take on alien abduction, Lifted is an enjoyably simple, pleasing short.