After the masterpiece that is "Toy Story 3", Pixar Studios has released "Cars 2", "Brave" and "Monsters University". These films, although fine on their own (except for "Cars 2"), did not live up to the Pixar standard. The studio has set such a high bar that when they release a good-but-not-great film, we always seem to be extremely disappointed, myself included. While both "Brave" and "Monsters University" had some interesting ideas and A-level moments, it wasn't able to live up to its own potential (and don't even get me started on "Cars 2"). So naturally, I was excited but also very cautious about Pixar's next project that tackled the inner workings of the mind. After hearing that the film garnered extremely positive reviews from films critics at the Cannes Film Festival, I suddenly began to realize what the film was going to be. Was I ready for Pixar's next film? No. No, I was not.
"Inside Out" stars Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black and Mindy Kaling and is directed by Pete Docter ("Monsters Inc." and "Up"). The film is set in the mind of Riley Anderson (Kaitlyn Dias), a young girl who has moved from Minneapolis to San Fransisco, where five personified emotions — Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear — control her various thoughts and actions based on certain circumstances. Off the bat, this is a very original story that is filled with great imagination and creativity. This world that Docter has created is something extraordinary. In a time when sequels, remakes and adaptations are all the rage, "Inside Out" shocks us with its heart, originality, and humor. It was a film that I was not emotionally prepared for. Its charm and innocence instantly grabs you and pulls you in this child-friendly universe until the film's end credits.
The main 5 emotions that we are introduced to are Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear who are all played by very talented and very funny people (mostly SNL alumni), who all fit in their respective roles beautifully. Amy Poehler as the cutesy wide-eyed Joy is just perfect. Under a less visionary director, this character could have been an annoying one-note protagonist, but Docter proves to us once again that he is amazing at creating characters and that Poehler is great at bringing us both the laughs and the tears. Sadness, played by Phyllis Smith, stole the show with her hilarious dead pan performance. Every time she is on screen, I could not stop laughing. Lewis Black as Anger was another one of my favorites. The hot-headed, fire spewing emotion was over-the-top in all the right ways and delivered some great laughs. Mindy Kaling's sassy portrayal of Disgust was hilarious to watch. Like Sadness, Kaling's dead pan one-liners and quirks were just spot on. And finally, Fear, played by Bill Hader, was goofy and wacky enough to make the younger audience members very excited to see his manic behavior. Everyone involved in this film does an A+ job in their respective roles, which truly amplified the film to Disney/Pixar animated film masterpiece level and were enjoyed by both children and adults in the audience.
I have never felt such a resonating connection to an animated film since Disney/Pixar's own "Toy Story 3". There is something about Pixar's magic that truly captivates you and this film is no different. "Inside Out" is not only a very fun movie for children, it is also a deep look into the minds of different people, young and old. We as the audience can tell how much Docter and Pixar worked on the film's story to make the workings of the mind, not only extremely inventive, but easily accessible to people of all ages. Children will easily understand how one's mind functions and how one will come to certain conclusions based on certain emotions. Although, I cannot reveal the overall message of the film because I consider it to be a spoiler, it is one that I believe is extremely important. "Inside Out" shows us that life is not so simple. It is filled with complex emotions and confusing times, but Docter's vision for the film was to make this difficult idea very simple to understand, which inevitably succeeds in the end.
Another aspect about the film that I have to praise is its portrayal of a teenager growing up. Usually in family oriented films, teenagers are not depicted very accurately, however, in "Inside Out", the young girl, Riley Anderson (Kaitlyn Dias), is one of the most realistic teenagers I have ever seen in an animated film. The struggles that she has to go through is not only relatable, but real. As teenagers, we go through what she's going through in the film. We know the emotions that came from our youth and Docter was so meticulous in creating her character, I almost felt like she was a real person.
Simply an incredible film. It's hard to talk about this film in detail because the less you know about the film, the more it will surprise you. Not only is "Inside Out" one of the best Pixar films ever produced, it's one of the best animated films in the 21st century. Like in the film, "Inside Out" will make you laugh, cry, and feel so many things in such a short amount of time. Clearly the makers of the film set out to make a story that would be timeless and relevant for years to come. I can honestly say there was nothing bad in this film. A film that people of all ages will enjoy, but one that adults would probably find a stronger emotional connection to. "Inside Out" engulfs you with imagination, originality and heart, making it one of Pixar's best works in years. Going back to the golden days. I'm predicting right now that "Inside Out" will win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature because this film is a 10 out of 10 perfect.
Go see the 3D and 2D!
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