Director: Pete Docter Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Kaitlyn Dias Writers: Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley | 5/5 Inside Out Leave it to Pixar, coming out of a two-year draught, to give a response to last year’s Boyhood that is, surprisingly, nearly as good. But is it surprising? I don’t think so, seeing as how Pixar’s worst film - Cars 2 - is as good as most other studios’ best films. They have always gone one step further than most films when it comes to telling a story. Plot usually plays second fiddle in a Pixar film. Any dunderhead can follow plot points. The best Pixar film’s look beyond the characters’ actions, instead focusing on WHY the characters made those actions. No film hits that philosophy home better than Inside Out, the tale of a young girl dealing with her conflicting emotions after being taken from her home and thrown into an unfamiliar place. That young girl is Riley, played by newcomer Kaitlyn Dias in a subtly understated performance. Actually, the whole “real world” plot of Inside Out is fairly understated. Much like Mason’s story from Boyhood, Riley’s tale is not defined by huge moments of drama, but by the small moments that define us. The majority of the film actually takes place is inside Riley’s head, where we spend time with her five key emotions: Joy (Amy Poehler, perfection, of course), Sadness (The Office’s Phyllis Smith in an award-worthy voice performance), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling, also from The Office). |
I will not waste either of our times breaking down the psychology of the film’s mechanics. I swear, director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc., Up) has crafted one of the most psychologically complex - and accurate, if I’m hearing correctly - stories ever put on film. And this is a cartoon, don’t forget! If there was ever an animated feature film that deserved a thesis paper written about it, this is it.
Basically, the story revolves around Riley’s core memories and how they affect her personality. Joy has always been in command, making Riley a goofy, athletic, family-loving girl. The film begins with Sadness eagerly wanting to hold the memories, an act that causes them to turn blue and sad. After getting sucked up a chute, Joy and Sadness must find their way back to headquarters before Fear, Disgust, and Anger completely shut things down. Their adventure takes them to a slew of beautifully-designed, endlessly-entertaining, intellectually-stimulating places such as Imaginationland, the subconscious memory, and a section of Riley’s brain dedicated to abstract thoughts - just wait for that two-dimensional sequence.
Joy and Sadness’ journey may be at the film’s center, and their eventual bond makes for some truly rewarding viewing, but I think this film belongs to another character that I have yet to mention. My personal favorite character in Inside Out is Riley’s old imaginary friend Bing Bong (Richard Kind). Bing Bong, a character who identifies as part cat, part elephant, but mostly cotton candy, has not been Riley’s imagine for quite some time. He spends his life wondering the endless mazes of memories, rummaging and hoarding the ones he likes best. Riley has moved on, but Bing Bong isn’t bitter. He is not naive, either. He understands his new place, and though he may have liked the old way, he would do everything in his power to prolong his old friend’s joy - and Joy.
I feel myself wanting to tear up just writing down my thoughts, so I am going to have to draw this to a close. The best thing I can tell you to do is go out and see the film for yourself. It will defy your expectations of what animation is capable of. Pixar has done it again. Inside Out is not just a new classic under the studio’s belt; it’s a true masterpiece of modern cinema and emotionally-complex storytelling. And did I mention that it’s beautiful and hilarious and fun for the whole family? Yeah, that too.
p.s. The movie poster I made is not official. It's a fan-made image, but it sure is beautiful.
Basically, the story revolves around Riley’s core memories and how they affect her personality. Joy has always been in command, making Riley a goofy, athletic, family-loving girl. The film begins with Sadness eagerly wanting to hold the memories, an act that causes them to turn blue and sad. After getting sucked up a chute, Joy and Sadness must find their way back to headquarters before Fear, Disgust, and Anger completely shut things down. Their adventure takes them to a slew of beautifully-designed, endlessly-entertaining, intellectually-stimulating places such as Imaginationland, the subconscious memory, and a section of Riley’s brain dedicated to abstract thoughts - just wait for that two-dimensional sequence.
Joy and Sadness’ journey may be at the film’s center, and their eventual bond makes for some truly rewarding viewing, but I think this film belongs to another character that I have yet to mention. My personal favorite character in Inside Out is Riley’s old imaginary friend Bing Bong (Richard Kind). Bing Bong, a character who identifies as part cat, part elephant, but mostly cotton candy, has not been Riley’s imagine for quite some time. He spends his life wondering the endless mazes of memories, rummaging and hoarding the ones he likes best. Riley has moved on, but Bing Bong isn’t bitter. He is not naive, either. He understands his new place, and though he may have liked the old way, he would do everything in his power to prolong his old friend’s joy - and Joy.
I feel myself wanting to tear up just writing down my thoughts, so I am going to have to draw this to a close. The best thing I can tell you to do is go out and see the film for yourself. It will defy your expectations of what animation is capable of. Pixar has done it again. Inside Out is not just a new classic under the studio’s belt; it’s a true masterpiece of modern cinema and emotionally-complex storytelling. And did I mention that it’s beautiful and hilarious and fun for the whole family? Yeah, that too.
p.s. The movie poster I made is not official. It's a fan-made image, but it sure is beautiful.