We’ve all wondered what makes people do, think or act a certain way, but what if we could take a peek inside their minds and see for ourselves? Fret no more because Disney and Pixar have done it with ease in their new film, “Inside Out.”
“Inside Out” will be released on June 19, but already has generated buzz at the Cannes Film Festival for its masterful portrayal of emotions inside the mind of an 11-year old girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias).
Directors Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen spent six years on the film, which brings together the voice talents of today’s great comedic actors to portray some of our most prominent emotions: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Louis Black) and Disgust (Mindy Kaling).
Together the five characters form a dysfunctional family of sorts as they try (and sometimes fall short) to get Riley through each day with a smile on her face. Joy is the unofficial leader of the pack and she tries tirelessly to goad the other members of her team into staying positive as they guide Riley’s actions from Headquarters, the central hub of her brain.
However, as things in Riley’s childhood are simpler (like developing a hatred for broccoli or a fear of clowns), her journey to adolescence presents a host of new problems to overcome. And growing up only gets worse when Riley’s parents, the aptly titled ‘Mom’ (Diane Lane) and ‘Dad’ (Kyle MacLachlan), pick up and move from Minnesota to San Francisco for work.
Riley’s emotions begin to run amok but are left in a tough spot when Joy and Sadness are sucked into long-term memory and the rest of the gang is left in charge.
The bickering that ensues when Disgust, Anger and Fear are left to their own devices is quirky and hilarious with plenty of slapstick comedy. On the other hand, Joy and Sadness have to trust their respective instincts and try and find some common ground in their quest back home and discover that a good laugh can be just as important as a good cry. In fact, while everything can get very chaotic in Riley’s head, the prime emotions are what guide her through the hard times, but, as they find out, working separately isn’t always the answer. And as Riley adjusts to her new life, the little voices in her head learn to find a more harmonious balance.
Perhaps what is most intriguing about “Inside Out” is that this is the first time a concept as cerebral as human emotion has been turned into something so lifelike.
Textbook concepts like the subconscious and imagination are turned from stuffy definitions into whimsical visuals that allow the audience to see themselves in a new light.
To say that Disney and Pixar have an instant classic on their hands may seem precocious but definitely not a far reach from the truth. With an all-star cast of characters and a story that resonates with us all, this film is a winner.
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