Everyone, today, in honor of the newest Disney/Pixar sequel being released, we review its predecessor that will be reaching its 10-year anniversary next year. The one, and only, Inside Out!
Plot: When Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), and her parents (Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan) move from a small town in Minnesota to San Francisco, California, Riley’s in her head that consist of Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Fear (Bill Hader) begin to try to work in her head to try to make her feel different emotions about the move. However, Joy is determined to help make Riley feel joyful, and happy about the situation. Now, will Riley end up feeling happy the whole time, or will all the other emotions end up going to her head, and make her feel mixed emotions about leaving Minnesota, and going to California?
Based on the above description, it may sound like this is a movie in which a human is being operated like a robot by characters in her head that are emotions, yes? Well, though it may potentially come off that way on the surface, it’s more that this movie shows, in a surprisingly creative way, that humans have emotions, be it happiness, sadness, you name it. Director Pete Doctor makes the decision to make each of these emotions into characters. And wow, does it work beautifully. Not only is this film brilliantly executed, but it is probably one of the most well-written films in the Disney/Pixar library. I mean it does well with balancing out its happy moments, it’s more sad, and serious moments, and things like that. The world building is also memorable with there being islands in Riley’s head like Goofball Island, Family Island, you name it. Each emotion also has a personality, besides the fact that Joy tries to be the joyful one all the time, Disgust the same thing, and more. The emotion characters are also really hilarious at times, especially Anger, who , ironically, may yet be one of most hilarious of the other emotion characters. The humans are also really great characters too, especially Riley herself. It was also great to catch glimpses here, and there, of emotion characters in the heads of other humans, such as Riley’s parents, for example. One other thing in regard to the characters is that some secondary characters, like Bing Bong, were memorable too. It was also great to see film director Pete Doctor, and score composer Michael Giacchino working together for another Disney/Pixar film after doing so six years before with Up. Speaking of which, isn’t it interesting that both films end up up covering mature themes, while also having a lighthearted side to each of them as well? The animation is also gorgeous, especially when we get to see the inside of other people’s heads, especially Riley’s. But really, what makes Inside Out stand out from many of Disney/Pixar’s entries, are the mature subjects, particularly the whole deal of having to cope with joy, pain, and so much more either at the same time, or at various moments in life. It’s also interesting to see a character like Joy act like both a heroine, and an anti-heroine. Yeah, don’t believe me!?! Let’s just say that you’d be surprised by how her character is handled at certain points in this film. Anyway, Inside Out can serve as both a fable, and metaphor to real life. See, as I’m sure many of us know, many of us, especially as Christians, seem to think that we need to try to be joyful, and act like we’re okay every single moment of every single day when, in reality, we may sometimes feel down, feel brokenhearted, and things like those. First of all, I like how true Pastors have learned to counter that argument, and it’s good that this movie countered that argument in very creative ways. However, what really makes this movie be a classic film is how each character, be it human ones, or even the the emotion characters themselves, learn how to truly grow, and mature physically, and especially emotionally as characters, characters like Riley, Joy, and Sadness in particular. Finally, this film also serves as an excellent reminder that there truly is a time to be happy, and joyful, a time to be sad, a time to be angry, you name it.
And that’s my review for Inside Out. Yes, it may balance out both its comedic moments, and its dramatic ones. Still, it covers some heavy subjects while also doing a great job of making it a fun film for kids in some ways, as well as teens, and adults in other ways. Truly, there will be something for any person at any age to enjoy in Inside Out. So, if you haven’t seen Inside Out, then know that it is one of those films that is for sure a must see. And if you find that somewhat hard to believe simply because this is an animated film, then trust me when I say that by the end, you’ll be pleasantly surprised, and may most likely find yourself than some of Pixar’s films that came out prior to it, and likely even the ones that were released after it. For reasons such as these, I can see why it snagged the Oscar for Best Animated Feature that following winter, or spring, in 2016. All to say, if you still have yet to see this Disney/Pixar film, known as Inside Out, 9-10 years later, then make it a point to see it ASAP, and see what you think!
Final Grade: A+
Matthew’s Animated & Live-Action Movie Reviews 