7/13/2015 0 Comments 'Inside Out' Movie ReviewAfter a period of experimenting with sequels such as Toy Story 3 and Cars 2, animation studio Pixar has returned to their roots of originality with the wildly original Inside Out. Welcome back, Pixar. Welcome back.
The story takes place largely inside the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley, in which her emotions, personified as colorful characters, operate a control panel that allows Riley to react to certain situations. And who are her emotions? There's Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler); Sadness (Phyllis Smith); Anger (Lewis Black); Disgust (Mindy Kaling); and Fear (Bill Hader). And what are some of the things that they can do to operate Riley? Not telling. It's not that I don't want you to know, it's just that this is one of those movies that it's best to go into knowing only the premise. The first thing that you should know about Inside Out is that while this does sound like a confusing setup to follow, honestly, the only thing more impressive than coming up with it is finding a way to sell it to kids. And like Pixar's finest works, this is a movie that kids will enjoy just as much as their parents, and each for different reasons. The children in the audience will delight in the colorful characters and environments and the world of Riley's mind, while the adults will relish in the symbolism of how the mind works. There's a new visual metaphor bursting with creativity around every corner to explain how memories work, how emotions work, how thoughts are processed, etc. These are the things that the kids can go back later on and rediscover (something that gives a movie rewatch value, which is crucial in making it last over time). The voice acting is spot-on, particularly by Poehler and Smith. Every note is hit perfectly, and the two characters form a surprisingly effective bond. While Joy and Sadness sound like an ironic pairing, their connection actually serves to depict the film's message: there has to be a balance of emotions. It's great to be happy, but having those sad moments makes you appreciate the happy ones even more. And while the Joy/Sadness duo are clearly the standout, all of the other voices are perfectly cast. Really short review, I know, but I want you to go into Inside Out knowing as little about the plot as I did. As for everything else you need to know, the story is highly original and well-executed, the world of Riley's mind is creatively realized, the themes and symbolism warrant multiple revisits, and I can easily say that Inside Out is Pixar's most memorable outing since 2009's Up. I'm giving Inside Out four out of four stars.
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