Directed by Pete Docter
Starring Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Mindy Kaling
I can't believe it's been two years since I reviewed Monsters University. It feels like an eternity since we've had a Pixar film. Some would go further, and say it feels like an eternity since we've had a good Pixar film. I am not one of those people. I enjoyed both Brave and Monsters University (not Cars 2), but not everyone else did, but that's besides the point. Now with Inside Out, I think everyone can agree Pixar has triumphed once again.
The film opens on the birth of a little girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), and the creation of her first emotion, Joy (Poehler). As time goes on and Riley grows, Joy is joined by other emotions, like Sadness (Smith), Disgust (Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader), and Anger (Lewis Black). The self-proclaimed leader of Riley's emotions, Joy struggles to keep Riley happy through all of life's challenges.
Joy finds her job even more difficult when Riley and her parents pack up their beautiful life in the Midwest for a new one in San Francisco. Things go haywire on Riley's first day of school. During a conflict over Riley's core memories, Joy and Sadness get sucked out of headquarters (Get it?), and lost in the other regions of Riley's mind. The two have to make their way back, while the other emotions try to navigate Riley through this tough period of her young life.
Such a bizarre concept, that works so beautifully. The way the writers formed the inner workings of the mind is so creative, and it brings a bunch of fun and laughs to the script. It's been a few weeks since I saw the film, and I still believe there are little emotions running around in my head. You would think characters that are just singular emotions would be so one dimensional but they're not. The highlight of this film of course is Joy. Through all her hardships, her deep connection to Riley keeps her strong and positive. Amy Poehler, giving an almost Leslie Knope-like performance, is perfect casting. This role was made for her.
I think one of the film's greatest achievements is while we spend more time with Riley's emotions than Riley herself, you still feel for Riley and her struggles. Even though this whole movie is taking place literally inside her head, you know and feel the stakes being raised. Her story is one anyone can relate to, and once again, Pixar provokes tears.
In addition to Poehler, all the other emotions are perfectly cast. Smith, Hader, Black, Kaling…I can't even begin to express how well these actors fit their roles. One character that's been left out of the trailers and commercials is Riley's imaginary friend, Bing Bong, played by Richard Kind. He ends up being a big scene stealer, and one of the film's highlights, in ways I can't go into. When he joins up with Joy and Sadness on their journey that's when the sparks really fly.
Pete Docter has already won two Oscars for the two films he's done with Pixar (Monsters Inc and Up), and it's a safe bet he's going to get his third from Inside Out. Creative, thought-provoking, fun, and emotionally uplifting, it's everything you would hope for in a Pixar film.
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