BeautifulBallad Reviews Pixar’s Inside Out
Pixar’s latest offering, Inside Out, has it all: heart, humor, and hope. Featuring an All-star cast consisting of Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, and Phyllis Smith, Inside Out accomplishes what seems like only Pixar can: please children while tugging at adult’s heartstrings. And best of all, it’s exceptionally entertaining all the way through.
Amy Poehler voices Joy, one of 11 year old Riley’s five main emotions. Joy takes it upon herself to keep Riley happy all the time while keeping Riley’s other emotions, Sadness (Smith), Disgust (Kaling), Fear (Hader), and Anger (Lewis Black), at bay. A big move and strain on Riley’s parents, coupled with Riley on the cusp of puberty and Sadness’ desire to touch everything, Joy has her work cut out for her.
When Joy and Sadness end up out of Headquarters (where the five emotions and Riley’s core memories reside) with no way to get back in, Riley’s future and the fate of her memories get trapped in limbo. Amy Poehler’s Joy is effervescent and complimented well by Phyllis Smith’s Sadness. Joy is everything you want her to be, hopeful, optimistic and happy while Sadness is that gloomy cloud with the ability to damper any situation who just won’t go away.
Together, Joy and Sadness embark on an adventure which takes them through Imagination Land, Dream Production and more encountering memories from Riley’s past all while the three remaining emotions try to help navigate Riley through a new home, new school and new life. Along the way Joy and Sadness prove that a person needs all of her emotions to live a fulfilling life and it’s not always your own emotions which dictate and decide your own happiness.
Inside Out walks a fine line, it’s funny enough for children of all ages while poignant and touching for older Disney fans and parents. Pixar succeeded in squeezing the heart in 2009’s Up! and they do that once again in Inside Out. Laughs are abundant, as are perhaps a few tears, Inside Out is a must-see film for the summer.
Grade: A