Year: 2015
Director: Pete Doctor & Ronaldo Del Carmen
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, and Richard Kind
Tagline: Meet the little voices inside your head.
Synopsis: Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger are 11-year-old Riley's emotions. Their job is to keep Riley going, a job that gets more difficult when she and her family move from Minnesota to San Francisco.
Tagline: Meet the little voices inside your head.
Synopsis: Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger are 11-year-old Riley's emotions. Their job is to keep Riley going, a job that gets more difficult when she and her family move from Minnesota to San Francisco.
Review
Before I dive into Inside Out, I should mention the short film that precedes it: "Lava." The short film tells the story of a volcanic island that just wants someone to "lava" (wordplay on "love"). It's a nice little story with the beautiful animation we've come to expect from Pixar. The song the volcano sings is also lovely ("lavaly"?). It's a nice short, though perhaps not the brilliance of "Geri's Game" or "Boundin'."
On to our feature presentation ...
Inside Out is fantastic! I've liked their last few films, but this is truly a return to the Pixar we know and love. It's such a crazy idea that could only be brought to life through animation. Much of the movie takes place inside Riley's brain, which is the most colorful, zany, and yet psychologically sound place you could imagine. The world the animators have created is so rich and detailed, you'll likely be finding new things on the 5th and 10th viewings (and it is worth that many viewings). And longtime Pixar collaborator Michael Giacchino does his usual fabulous job with the score.
Pixar is known for being outstanding in its animation. And Inside Out lives up to that. It is visually stunning. If you look at the different emotions, they appear sort of fuzzy. They are described as being made up of energy, which gives them a fun and unique look that totally works for personified emotions.
While Pixar always excels visually, what makes Pixar Pixar is its dedication to story, stories that are honest, humorous, and heartfelt. Inside Out is pure Pixar. This isn't a story about the goofy antics of personified emotions interacting, although there is plenty of that. This is a film that has the courage to say emotions can be good, they can be bad, they are sometimes hard, but they are always necessary. When's the last time a movie or television show -- aimed at kids or adults -- showed the importance and need for sadness in our lives? Beneath all the sight gags and stunning visuals, Inside Out is about what it means to be human and what it means to grow up.
There is no villain in Inside Out, which in and of itself is unusual for a movie aimed at children. Although the five emotions are very different, they work together. None of the emotions are presented as negative. They each have a purpose in Riley's life. We tend to view fear and anger as negative things that are bad. But those emotions really do have purposes in our lives and the task of life is to bridle them, not pretend they don't exist. As the story shows, while feeling certain emotions is hard and unpleasant, it is far worse to feel nothing. Numbness is worse than any emotion.
Fear, as shown in the movie, is tasked with keeping Riley safe. Fear is the voice saying, "Wear your seatbelt because you never know what might happen." A little fear is good, unless you let it paralyze you. Likewise, Anger is all about what is right and fair. Anger is the one saying, "That's not how things should be" or "I should stand up for myself." It's when anger consumes that it becomes bad. Disgust is important too ... but I haven't figured that one out as much. But she'll save you from broccoli pizza.
The film is primarily about Joy and Sadness, both as characters and emotions. Disgust is green with green eyes and green hair. Fear is purple with purple eyes. Anger is red with red eyes. And Sadness is blue with blue eyes and blue hair. But Joy is yellow with blue eyes and blue hair. Those features may in part be because it makes for a stunning contrast (and they didn't want her to look jaundiced), but it also visually shows the connection between Joy and Sadness. That connection is at the heart of the story. That connection is what makes Inside Out not only an excellent film, but also an important film.
Joy just wants Riley to be happy, so she doesn't understand Sadness or her purpose. She doesn't understand that you can't have one without the other. You can't understand one without the other. Learning the interwoven balance between joy and sadness is a fundamental part of life. Yes, "men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). But that very same chapter states that there must be "opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11). During His life, Jesus Christ had perfect faith and a perfect perspective, so we might think He was perfectly happy. Yet He is described as "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). There are times for joy and there are times for sadness. And there are times for both, because we're human and wonderfully complicated like that.
Did I mention that Inside Out is also incredibly funny? Because it is.
If you haven't already seen Inside Out, go see it. If you have seen it, go see it again. I plan to. And I expect to find even more brilliant nuances and insights.
*** Spoiler Section ***
I put things in the spoiler section hoping you won't read them until after you've seen the film. Obviously whether or not you follow that is your decision. But in this instance, I strongly encourage seeing the film first (I even moved this section below the quotes to avoid accidental reading). What follows isn't some huge plot twist a la The Sixth Sense. But it is a pretty touching point in the film. It gave me a case of the sniffles. And I heard the adult behind me in the theater get a case of the sniffles too.
When Bing Bong and Joy are trying to escape from the Memory Dump, I was surprised they didn't make it the first time. And then they failed again and I was wondering if there was something more for Joy to learn before they could reach the surface again. And then on the third time Bing Bong jumped quietly out of the rocket and my heart kinda broke.
It's not that Bing Bong is the most brilliant character ever* whom we absolutely adored (like Ellie in Up). What makes his sacrifice and fading from memory sad is what he represents. He's not just an imaginary friend, he's a part of childhood: a goofy and joyous innocence. Bing Bong fading away isn't painful because it is unexpected. It's painful because as an adult looking back, I realize it was inevitable. Imaginary friends are ephemeral by nature. And some aspects of childhood are simply lost as we grow up. It's a little heartbreaking, looking back and realizing what we lose as we grow up, or what our children lose as they grow up.
I may also have gotten a bit choked up when that first new mixed memory rolled out. It wasn't yellow; it wasn't blue. It was both. It was both sadness and joy together, which rings so emotionally true.
* In retrospect, my fondness for Bing Bong has grown incredibly. Initially I distrusted him in the film (which was the filmmakers' intention). I wondered if this was another Stinky Pete or Lotso who would do anything to forward his own agenda. Once he loses his sled and has his moment with Sadness, I knew Bing Bong was trustworthy. And now, as I look at all he represents -- childhood, innocence, imagination, dreams -- I think he is one of the great characters in Pixar's who's who. So thank you, Bing Bong, for loving Riley enough. "Take her to the moon for me, Joy."
On to our feature presentation ...
Inside Out is fantastic! I've liked their last few films, but this is truly a return to the Pixar we know and love. It's such a crazy idea that could only be brought to life through animation. Much of the movie takes place inside Riley's brain, which is the most colorful, zany, and yet psychologically sound place you could imagine. The world the animators have created is so rich and detailed, you'll likely be finding new things on the 5th and 10th viewings (and it is worth that many viewings). And longtime Pixar collaborator Michael Giacchino does his usual fabulous job with the score.
Pixar is known for being outstanding in its animation. And Inside Out lives up to that. It is visually stunning. If you look at the different emotions, they appear sort of fuzzy. They are described as being made up of energy, which gives them a fun and unique look that totally works for personified emotions.
While Pixar always excels visually, what makes Pixar Pixar is its dedication to story, stories that are honest, humorous, and heartfelt. Inside Out is pure Pixar. This isn't a story about the goofy antics of personified emotions interacting, although there is plenty of that. This is a film that has the courage to say emotions can be good, they can be bad, they are sometimes hard, but they are always necessary. When's the last time a movie or television show -- aimed at kids or adults -- showed the importance and need for sadness in our lives? Beneath all the sight gags and stunning visuals, Inside Out is about what it means to be human and what it means to grow up.
There is no villain in Inside Out, which in and of itself is unusual for a movie aimed at children. Although the five emotions are very different, they work together. None of the emotions are presented as negative. They each have a purpose in Riley's life. We tend to view fear and anger as negative things that are bad. But those emotions really do have purposes in our lives and the task of life is to bridle them, not pretend they don't exist. As the story shows, while feeling certain emotions is hard and unpleasant, it is far worse to feel nothing. Numbness is worse than any emotion.
Fear, as shown in the movie, is tasked with keeping Riley safe. Fear is the voice saying, "Wear your seatbelt because you never know what might happen." A little fear is good, unless you let it paralyze you. Likewise, Anger is all about what is right and fair. Anger is the one saying, "That's not how things should be" or "I should stand up for myself." It's when anger consumes that it becomes bad. Disgust is important too ... but I haven't figured that one out as much. But she'll save you from broccoli pizza.
The film is primarily about Joy and Sadness, both as characters and emotions. Disgust is green with green eyes and green hair. Fear is purple with purple eyes. Anger is red with red eyes. And Sadness is blue with blue eyes and blue hair. But Joy is yellow with blue eyes and blue hair. Those features may in part be because it makes for a stunning contrast (and they didn't want her to look jaundiced), but it also visually shows the connection between Joy and Sadness. That connection is at the heart of the story. That connection is what makes Inside Out not only an excellent film, but also an important film.
Joy just wants Riley to be happy, so she doesn't understand Sadness or her purpose. She doesn't understand that you can't have one without the other. You can't understand one without the other. Learning the interwoven balance between joy and sadness is a fundamental part of life. Yes, "men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). But that very same chapter states that there must be "opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11). During His life, Jesus Christ had perfect faith and a perfect perspective, so we might think He was perfectly happy. Yet He is described as "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). There are times for joy and there are times for sadness. And there are times for both, because we're human and wonderfully complicated like that.
Did I mention that Inside Out is also incredibly funny? Because it is.
If you haven't already seen Inside Out, go see it. If you have seen it, go see it again. I plan to. And I expect to find even more brilliant nuances and insights.
Quotable Quotes
- "We did not die today. I call that an unqualified success!" -- Fear
- "Crying helps me slow down and obsess over the weight of life's problems." -- Sadness
- "Well, I just saved our lives. Yeah, you're welcome." -- Disgust (after "saving" Riley from broccoli)
- "Oooh airplane. We've got an airplane, everybody." -- Anger
- "Can I say that curse word now?" -- Anger
I put things in the spoiler section hoping you won't read them until after you've seen the film. Obviously whether or not you follow that is your decision. But in this instance, I strongly encourage seeing the film first (I even moved this section below the quotes to avoid accidental reading). What follows isn't some huge plot twist a la The Sixth Sense. But it is a pretty touching point in the film. It gave me a case of the sniffles. And I heard the adult behind me in the theater get a case of the sniffles too.
When Bing Bong and Joy are trying to escape from the Memory Dump, I was surprised they didn't make it the first time. And then they failed again and I was wondering if there was something more for Joy to learn before they could reach the surface again. And then on the third time Bing Bong jumped quietly out of the rocket and my heart kinda broke.
It's not that Bing Bong is the most brilliant character ever* whom we absolutely adored (like Ellie in Up). What makes his sacrifice and fading from memory sad is what he represents. He's not just an imaginary friend, he's a part of childhood: a goofy and joyous innocence. Bing Bong fading away isn't painful because it is unexpected. It's painful because as an adult looking back, I realize it was inevitable. Imaginary friends are ephemeral by nature. And some aspects of childhood are simply lost as we grow up. It's a little heartbreaking, looking back and realizing what we lose as we grow up, or what our children lose as they grow up.
I may also have gotten a bit choked up when that first new mixed memory rolled out. It wasn't yellow; it wasn't blue. It was both. It was both sadness and joy together, which rings so emotionally true.
* In retrospect, my fondness for Bing Bong has grown incredibly. Initially I distrusted him in the film (which was the filmmakers' intention). I wondered if this was another Stinky Pete or Lotso who would do anything to forward his own agenda. Once he loses his sled and has his moment with Sadness, I knew Bing Bong was trustworthy. And now, as I look at all he represents -- childhood, innocence, imagination, dreams -- I think he is one of the great characters in Pixar's who's who. So thank you, Bing Bong, for loving Riley enough. "Take her to the moon for me, Joy."
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