Movie Reaction: Inside Out

Formula: Sort of like...Osmosis Jones...except not really...and much better

Why I Saw It: When Pixar has an original movie, it's as excited as I'll get for any studio film.

[Voice] Cast: Amy Poehler (Joy), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Bill Hader (Fear), Lewis Black (Anger), and Mindy Kaling (Disgust) all feel like Pixar got their first choice. Richard Kind, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, and newcomer Kaitlyn Dias are all wonderful too.

Plot: The story works on two levels. The top level is that Riley is an 11 year old girl living in Minnesota. Her parents abruptly move to San Francisco for her father's job. Riley has trouble fitting in and wants to go home. The bulk of the story happens on the other level, in Riley's head, where her emotions, led by Joy try to navigate her through what going on. After the move, Joy starts to lose control of Riley. There's an accident in Riley's brain's control room, and Joy and Sadness end up in her long term memory. As those two try to get back to the control room, Anger, Disgust, and Fear have to run Riley. This doesn't go well. It's a pretty simple plot on either level, which is part of what makes it so good.

Thoughts: This is the smartest movie Pixar has ever made. It's not them trying to be too clever, which derails many animated movies. This is Pixar being as smart as they think they are. It's a wickedly clever concept and layered deeply while still being completely accessible. I don't know how they do it. The movie is also hilarious. It's sad. It's fun. Seriously, you have to be trying to not enjoy this film.

Elephant in the Room: Could I watch this movie in lieu of taking Psych 101? Probably. The more fitting thing to say is that anyone who has taken a basic psychology class (or some sort of cognitive-whatever class) will be able to smugly laugh at a lot of little jokes littered throughout the movie. It's designed for all ages, so it's not isolating with those jokes. It's just a case of knowing a little can help a lot to love the movie even more than you already will.

To Sum Things Up (In 57 Words or Less)
In a summer with so many great or big or satisfying movies, this may be the one to beat. Pixar has outdone itself, which is quite a feat. I don’t have a bad thing to say about this movie. I’m going to stop here, lest I slip into hyperbole.

Verdict (?): Strongly Recommend