Inside Out (2015) ****½ /5: Although i have some issues with the presentation this film really got me thinking. Well done Pixar

It’s pretty clear that Inside Out is one of the year’s best films. Although I have some minor issues this film really got me thinking. So all I can say is Well Done Pixar. I have not watched a Pixar film since Up (2009). I wasn’t interested in the films that came after.  Up is still my favourite Pixar film. I consider Up a genuine classic film.  Inside Out, however, is as strong, if not stronger, than most of the other work Pixar has done. One reason it’s up there with Up is the genuine emotional resonance. There are moments of genuine joy and sadness.  I laughed unexpectedly and I was surprised that I was moved in some key moments. At first I thought Inside Out was going to be another animated film with eccentric characters and that I would be going through the motions. While I was watching it, however, the film took some brave decisions that made an  eccentric character and one that is seemingly marginalized very important. These revelations just added to my joyous surprise.

This film Is primarily about the emotions, Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear and Anger that govern the reactions of a 11 year old girl, Riley,  as she goes through the emotional turmoil that comes with moving from her hometown in Minnesota to San Francisco.

Positives

The primary positive is that this film is a return to form for Pixar. After Up they took a bit of a nosedive. That wasn’t surprising because Up is a great film. It’s hard to follow up immediately from such a great film as Up. They seem to have now followed Up with Inside Out. The key to following Up for Inside Out are the genuine emotional moments.  The genuine sad moments are easily blended with moments of genuine humour. No I could not keep a straight face in some moments. Very funny film in parts although slapstick is overdone in parts in order to cater primarily to children. It is a children’s film after all.  Up was strong for the very same reasons when you consider the genuine moments of sadness and humour in that film.

I liked the concept of the film which involves entering the mind of this young girl from an emotional point of view. Eventually the film explores the different aspects of her mind.  This allows for some very interesting discoveries particularly Bing Bong. Bing Bong was a real treat of a character and what happens to him in this film really moved me.  At first he appeared as  just another eccentric character but he ends up becoming one of the most important. He wasn’t just tagging along. It makes you realize why it’s difficult to get rid of those elements that make up the core of your being. You might dismiss them but they still remain important. Then there is the character of Sadness that is marginalized for much of this film by the other emotions, especially Joy, because of her sad nature but it is eventually realized that she is one of the most important. Can’t be happy all the time unless you consume hardcore drugs on the regular.  I like how the new is created from the old. Obviously that comes when everyone realizes that they have to work together to build bridges.

The film is well animated. I liked the moments of bright colours that contrast with those with a dreary look such as those moments in the dump or when some aspects of Riley’s personality crumbles. In terms of animation and its variety Inside Out is a better film than Up. In terms of variety that moment when they go into the abstract room is hilarious and reminds you how animation can be inventive without being distracting or superficial.

This film will get you thinking about your own emotions.

Negatives

The primary negative I had with this film was the absence of a dominant intellectual sort of character.  A mr. fix it or someone that keeps the emotions in check.  Imagine seeing a Brain sort of character in the mix in his own station of course yet passes through to interact with the various emotions to check on how Riley is feeling. Without such a character Riley does not seem to be able to challenge or question what’s going on with herself.  Riley does not seem to think as it is all emotions. A character like Mr. Fix it or the processor would have been a good fit. There are many functional pieces in the film especially those people that make sure everything moves smoothly in Riley’s mind through elements such as the train of thought or her imagination or the disposal of useless memory. The issue is there need to be a character responsible for directing that and as Riley’s emotional state falls apart he or she would be at a loss. It can’t be just the emotions because Riley is not just an emotional individual but a thinking one and it would have been good to see her channel some of her thought processes as she tries to make sense of what she’s feeling. Without a dominant intellectual character it seems like she’s just a puppet on a string for these various emotions. Trust me an intellectual character was needed to keep Joy in check.  Joy acts like she’s on drugs sometimes during the film and she’s supposed to be the leader.

Shouldn't all the emotions be female. Why are there male characters featured as Riley's emotions? The mother was represented by an all female emotional core so why not Riley?