Inside Out - Review
This review of Inside Out is spoiler-free!
I've talked countless times about the capabilities that animated filmmaking has as a genre and style. The truth of the matter is that with the ever-growing expansion and exploration of what CGI can do means what that animation is becoming less and less of a necessity. So for these films to stay as a sticking point in Hollywood, they need to change and evolve to a demand that isn't just a movie for children with a simple plot and no real purpose. This is where the standard bearer of animated filmmaking: Pixar comes into play. They're the tentpoles of this industry and what makes animation move forward, so when they step up to the plate with a film that promises to be more than the expected. Inside Out is a film of precisely this style, a push forward for the genre. Let's discuss!
Inside Out is the story of Riley, a fun loving, hockey playing 11-year-old girl. Her life is excellent and she has nothing but joy in her heart, but soon her world is turned upside down when her family is moved to San Francisco. As her guides, Riley's emotions attempt to guide her through this challenging time. Led by Joy, these emotions struggle to keep Riley under control and Sadness begins to take control. Even worse, when Joy and Sadness have swept away into the recesses of Riley's Mind, it's up to Anger, Fear, and Disgust to keep her from falling apart. Inside Out may be a kids story but it's beautifully done and manages to connect with all audiences. The story is a bit complex when compared to some other animated films from the team at Pixar, but it's one of it's most important and relevant for children.
Amy Poehler plays Joy, the leader of the emotional group in Riley's mind. Being that her character is quite clearly the epitome of happiness and love, Poehler is an excellent choice. She's bouncing off the walls with excitement at every moment, but when things go wrong, the struggle to see her stay positive is where she truly shines. Her one-on-one scenes with Sadness (Phyllis Smith) are some of the best in the movie. Outside of the regular group of emotion characters in the film, there's one other character who is extremely important that enters in the second act. Played by Richard Kind, these characters help Joy and Sadness along their journey back to the upper level of Riley's mind. He's a character that will connect with the child in all of us, and it's emotionally draining realizing what happened to him and the overall impact that this character has on the story.
Without question Inside Out is a movie that makes you think about the way people think. Growing up we are filled with joy, love, and issues (not fears) about what we may become in the vast world in front of us, but we choose to do with all of these different things as a child is different than what we do as we grow old. The way this movie digs into the minds of people and attempts to give a ludicrous (but significant) explanation as to how we think and feel is excellent for children and any person. Seeing the inner workings of the mind and what happens when we forget is impactful and hurts to see. As Joy looks back upon old memories fondly, it's heartbreaking seeing some be sucked away from Riley's memory banks. It's the natural course of life, but it's something I never expected to see in a children's animated feature. There's so much going on below the surface, and it makes Inside Out that much more emotional.
Sometimes we forget that everyone has feelings and complicated emotions like we do. We challenge the ideas of others without often thinking about how they feel or how they will respond. We only care to worry about ourselves, and we usually realize too late the impact that we have on the psyche of others. As stated above, Inside Out calls for its viewers to think about the way we think and what we can do to help ourselves and others in unforeseen ways. It's the question of our psyche and mental capabilities and the real power of the mind that makes Inside Out so memorable and an unmissable film by the most significant animation studio on the planet. For those Pixar fans out there, this is a must-see, and for those who love movies, you need to see Inside Out as well.
