Emotions rule an 11-year-old’s mind.
Thank you, Pixar Animation Studios, for giving me the opportunity to view Inside Out in 3D.
Usually those annoying glasses are worth neither the hassle nor the surcharge, but in this case they saved my two children from noticing their normally stoic father blubbering like a newborn baby.
Yes, Inside Out is so genuine it’s enough to bring a grown man to tears.
But maybe it’s okay to cry in front of the kids, because the film shows that every one of our emotions serves a distinct purpose and should never be suppressed.
And Inside Out does so in one of the most inventive and boldest ways possible.
Pixar’s 15th animated feature is mainly set inside the head of Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), an 11-year-old hockey aficionado who has nary a care in the world.
Manning the controls inside Riley’s cranium are her five most dominant emotions: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Anger (Lewis Black). Each serves a specific role, but collectively they’re responsible for making sure Riley’s memories and personality are preserved and her brain runs like a well-oiled machine.
The clan is thrust into uncharted territory when Riley’s father gets a new job, which forces her family to move from Minnesota to San Francisco. To make matters worse, Riley’s entire life is threatened when Joy and Sadness are accidentally sucked into other parts of her mind. If they fail to get back to “headquarters” before their surroundings crumble before them, Riley will forever lose the ability to be happy.
Knowing Pixar’s track record, it should come as no surprise that director Pete Docter and his screenwriters succeed at presenting weighty material that appeals to audiences of all ages.
For the little kids, there’s plenty of humor, stunning animation and imaginative action scenes to keep them glued to their seats. And preteens should be able to relate to Riley as she copes with all the transitions and mood swings that come with that age.
But it’s the adults — primarily parents — who likely will get the most out of the film, because we older folks often don’t understand why our children’s emotions change on a whim. While we may consider most youngsters’ problems to be frivolous, the movie is a powerful reminder that we shouldn’t judge others for feeling what they feel.
But enough with the emotional heft. The comedy in Inside Out caters to grownups as well. Just be sure to stay for the closing credits for a sequence that lets you peer into the heads of the film’s other characters. Not only is it hilarious, it will buy you some extra time to dry your eyes before you walk out of the theater.
