As the movie begins, we see Carl Fredricksen, now in his late 80s, living alone in his house since the death of his wife. One day, his friend and neighbor, Ellie, suggests that he should go out and start dating again. Though initially hesitant, Carl eventually agrees to go on a date with an old friend, whom he hasn't seen in decades.
However, Carl is completely out of touch with modern dating and has no clue how to behave on a date. He turns to his faithful dog, Dug, for advice. Dug, being a dog, hasn't actually been on any dates himself, but he does know a thing or two about making friends. He starts teaching Carl some tricks, like wagging his tail, making eye contact, and giving compliments.
As they prepare for the date, Carl and Dug become closer friends, and Carl starts opening up about his life and his regrets. He tells Dug about how he wishes he had done more to make Ellie happy before she passed away. Dug listens intently and offers some words of encouragement.
Finally, the day of the date arrives, and Carl nervously heads out, armed with Dug's advice. To Carl's surprise, his date turns out to be just as nervous as he is, and they bond over their shared love of classic movies and books. With Dug's constant presence, things are going well until the end of the night when Carl drops his lady friend home.
After that, Carl felt uneasy about how things ended. He felt he made many mistakes on the date, but Dug tried to assure him that he did well and that mistakes aren't the end of a relationship. In the end, Carl gains new confidence, having a friend he can open up to, and one thing we all learn is that even as we grow old, we still need love and companionship.
