Tony’s Review of Disney/ Pixar’s “Inside Out”
“Inside Out”
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 102 minutes
Toscano’s Take:
Rating: A
“Inside Out,” Disney/ Pixar’s 15th animated film focuses on young Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco.
Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness.
The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life.
As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in her mind as her emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.
The theme of what’s going on inside one’s brain isn’t a new concept, check out Woody Allen’s “Everything You Aways Wanted to Know About Sex* But Were Afraid to Ask.” The “Brain & Body” segment in that is absolutely one of the funniest segments ever put to film.
Also there was a short-lived sitcom called “Herman’s Head,” which aired for three seasons between 1991 and 1993 offered up a look into the goings on in a guy’s brain. “Inside Out” uses that premise to explain the extreme ups and downs as children learn to master their emotions.
I hope some adults I know, after seeing this film, will make a better effort to control theirs, as well.
“Inside Out” is a very likable story and well animated. And, as with many Pixar movies, the parents will walk away with more than the kids do as the film does a great job of explaining how kids try to master their emotions, especially in the face of some pretty big changes.
“Joy,” voiced by Amy Poehler, is Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, other emotions begin to gain ground. “Anger,” “Fear” and “Disgust” all have their moments in the film; but it is “Sadness,” voiced by Phyllis Smith, who surprisingly becomes the grounding wire for Riley and her emotional imbalance.
The delicate relationship between “Sadness” and “Joy,” ultimately saves the day as we learn the bond that exists between all of our internal emotions is wonderful, complex and simple all at the same time.
“Inside Out” gets an A and is rated PG.
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Starring: Studio:
Amy Poehler Pixar/ Walt Disney Pictures
Mindy Kaling
Bill Hader
