It’s been ages since I last made a movie review (I believe the last one was 2011) and I’m really glad that I’ll be reviving my movie review posts with a movie from one of my favorite animated film studios; Disney-Pixar with their latest animated film; “Inside Out”.
Not to be confused with a low-budget WWE film of the same title (hence me labeling it as Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out), this film’s premise hinges on a simple question:
“What is going on inside someone’s head?”
The story revolves around Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), and her 5 emotions that runs around inside her head.
Led by Joy (Amy Poehler), along with the rest of Riley’s emotions namely Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith), they are in charge of keeping Riley’s well-being happy and safe.
Joy in particular, wants to ensure that Riley is always happy, all the time, and does whatever it takes so that all of her memories are all happy and bright ones. This was highlighted in the first few minutes of the film, which vividly recalls the blissful happiness of childhood, one that easily connects with younger audiences (and recalls some fond memories to older audiences, specially those with kids of their own like myself).
However, when Riley finds herself and her family moving away from their old home (something I quickly related to, because I just recently moved out of my parent’s home and into my own apartment with my family), Sadness suddenly wants to become more involved in the process. This doesn’t bode well for both Joy and Sadness that they end up being accidentally thrown off HeadQuarters (the main hub that controls Riley’s thoughts and emotions) and into Riley’s long-term memory. This leaves behind Anger, Fear and Disgust to take control of HeadQuarters.
This is the part where Riley slowly changes from a happy-go-lucky young kid, into an angry, sarcastic and anxious teen (and you guys will actually see HOW this happens thanks to the 3 emotions left in HeadQuarters). And it is here that Disney-Pixar flexes their creative muscles to bring to life visually an 11-year-old girl’s inner turmoil and conflict.
Joy and Sadness’ journey back to HeadQuarters, takes them thru several wildly imaginative depictions of the mind’s different functions. From the glamorous Dream Production Studios, to the wacky and far out Imagination Land; they give viewers a reprensentation of how the mind works… albeit in a visually stunning and highly creative way.
The level of creativity in this film is simply full to the brim, so much so that you will definitely be craving for a second viewing.
Coming from the same directors who made Up, this film is bound to draw a lot of feels (I mean it IS marketed as an EMOTION picture ain’t it?) and buckets of tears. During the screening, lots of sobbing can be heard in the room (myself included) and I remember myself driving all the way back home visibly and emotionally shaken and deeply affected (specially with a certain character in the film that wasn’t present or shown in any of the promotional trailers) so do remember to bring some tissues to wipe a tear or two.
Quite honestly, I was NOT expecting Disney-Pixar’s “Inside Out” to be THIS GOOD. Infact, I’ll be the first to admit, that watching the trailers leading up to the release of the film, it simply didn’t “click” with me as with other Disney-Pixar films. But after watching the film, I can safely say that hands down, this is one of Disney-Pixar’s most ambitious and most imaginative movies ever made.
It’s multi-level layer technique of story telling that simultaneously shows 2 different worlds/perspectives (the real world that Riley lives in, and the world of Riley’s mind) working hand-in-hand to craft one beautiful story is an accomplishment in itself.
And as with any great film, Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out, is one that rewards its viewers the more they watch it and it only gets better with time as ones who were once young when they first watch the film, will find more to appreciate as they rewatch the film again once they are older. A must-watch for any movie fan.
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