Film: Inside Out

It has been two years since Pixar graced us with a film and after the subpar Monsters University and slightly aimless Brave, not to mention their over reliance on sequels, Inside Out had to impress. Thankfully this funny, yet thought provoking film is a return to form for the studio, that shows it's OK to cry - and trust me you'll be doing a lot of that. 

Inside Out takes you into the mind of 11 year old Riley, meeting the five emotions that run her life; Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. Joy is Riley's main emotion but when her parents decide to move to San Fransisco her life is turned upside down. Joy's attempts to keep Riley happy lead to disaster when Joy and Sadness become separated from Riley's consciousness, leaving Anger, Fear and Disgust to rule her life. 

The film creates a very complex structure to the mind, yet is still easy to follow. Important memories in someone's life become their core memories, which construct their personality, i.e. their love of sports or strong family life. It is when Riley's sad memory of her first day at a new school threaten to become a core memory that the problems start, as Joy's attempts to remove this memory results in Riley losing all her core memories. This causes her to become cold and distant, which is exacerbated by the attempts of Fear, Disgust and Anger to replace Joy. 

Joy and Sadness' journey to get 'home' does on the surface appear to resemble that of Toy Story but the exploration of Riley's psyche keeps the story unique. The use of Riley's imaginary friend, Bing Bong (as played wonderfully by Richard Kind), is a powerful metaphor for the innocence you lose as you grow up. The Imaginary Boyfriend Generator is a warning of what's to come. Late in the film the concept of how an idea is formed is explored, becoming unstoppable once it is rooted in the mind.    

Amy Poehler is terrific as Joy, bringing across her bubbling enthusiasm even as it is slightly shaken by the film's events. The other emotions are similarly perfectly realised but are given much less attention. Sadness, as played by Phyllis Smith, comes closest to sharing the lead with Joy though she is given little to do, mostly as a result of Joy not seeing her purpose and pushing her to the side. Smith brings this Eeyore like figure to life and the lack of control she seems to have over the sadness she brings is interesting. 

Kaityln Dias gives a subtle performance as Riley, showing these emotions in the real world. It is truly impressive considering that Dias was only 15 at the time of the film's release, with it being in production for four years. Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan play Riley's Mum and Dad respectively, presenting an image of parents trying to stay strong for their child while struggling to adjust to a new city. The glimpses into their head, while brief, show the ways in which emotions can vary from person to person.    

These elements all come together to create a truly great Pixar film, one that can rival the best of their work. Inside Out really makes you think, while playing with the emotions. If you didn't cry at least three times in the film, I'm not sure whether to be jealous of your resolve or to question whether you have a heart.

For the first time in years I am truly excited about the studio. I hope Inside Out is truly a return to form for Pixar and that they will continue to impress in the future.