Film Review: ‘ Inside Out ‘
Directors: Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del Carmen
Cast: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith
Age Restriction: PG
Genre: Animation
Runtime: 100 minutes
Release date: 19 June 2015
Pixar – the award-winning animation studio owned by Disney – has had a rough few years.
First, Cars 2 – while financially successful wasn’t very well received; Brave turned out to be average and Monsters University – while above average entertainment just couldn’t reach what critics have dubbed that “Pixar standard”.
Yes, critics and audiences alike constantly expect big things from the animation studio who’ve produced critically lauded films such as Finding Nemo and Toy Story, and have scooped up multiple Oscars year after year. In addition, every film that’s ever come from the studio has been a financial success.
After skipping 2014, Pixar returns with its latest animated offering Inside Out – which sounds like their most inventive and creative idea yet.
With Inside Out, Pixar ventures into the mind of an 11-year-old girl where her five emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) – assist her with everyday life choices.
The 11-year-old girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) is currently going through a difficult time: she and her family have moved away, leaving behind her childhood memories and friends. However, Riley’s emotions, particularly Joy, make her new circumstances much easier to deal with.
One day, Joy and Sadness are accidently whisked away from their headquarters in Riley’s mind leaving only Fear, Anger and Disgust in charge. This is bad as Joy happens to be Riley’s most essential emotion and with no more joy in her life, Riley plunges into emotional turmoil.
With an impressive premise at display, the question comes: does Pixar return to form with Inside Out? I can gladly affirm that they absolutely do – making an epic and triumphant comeback.
Inside Out is one brilliant idea that’s quite ambitious and Pixar has no trouble executing it to perfection.
In doing so, Pixar has crafted an impressive story that will plunge audiences into a film of fascination and enjoyment.
Like most Pixar standards Inside Out’s story runs really deep, is unexpected, thought-provoking, mind-boggling and will impress parents more than their kids. However, kids will still find something to enjoy about Inside Out as the film is colourful, beautifully animated and filled with charismatic characters and laughable humour.
Pixar once again basks in innovation as I can now confirm Inside Out as their most inventive film to date; and of course with the studio’s high quality standards, the animation allows their imaginative ideas and imagery to come to life in one visual feast for the eyes. Speaking of visuals, the film’s 3D version doesn’t make a difference, so rather opt for a standard viewing.
The characters are excellently characterised and well developed; and with an exceptional voice cast, the acting is on point as well, particularly Poehler’s.
Poehler adds her charm of quirky personality into the optimist Joy while Smith is not too shabby as the dreary and depressed Sadness. Karling also does an exceptional job as the dramatic Disgust, while Hader brings his energy into the paranoid and fidgety Fear. As for Anger – voiced by Black – expect an impatient sass-mouth who’ll have audiences giggling with laughter.
Like so many Pixar films before it, Inside Out is powerfully moving as it will inspire audiences with lessons of sentimental value, and will have you emotionally attached to the well-written characters.
Inside Out has no issue with bringing out the emotions, taking audiences on an emotional roller coaster of happiness, excitement, hilarity, intrigue and sadness.
Inside Out might just be one of the best animated films of the year, and with other critics practically showering the film with acclaim, expect an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature to subsequently follow.
Judging by the other animated offerings that have or will be released in 2015, it seems that none of them will match the superiority of Inside Out except perhaps Pixar’s forthcoming title The Good Dinosaur. If Dinosaur is as good as it looks, then expect it to go head to head with Inside Out at next year’s Oscars.
Verdict: Everything about Inside Out is monumental, from its brilliantly crafted story, inventiveness, sentimentality, beautiful animation, imagination, characters and humour to its unsuspecting plot and clever narrative; Pixar has once again crafted an outstanding film that many will acclaim.
