Inside Out

Some may argue about Pixar's "slump" over the past few years, but I for one think that, despite box office success and generally positive reviews, its been a while (i.e. since Toy Story 3) that we had a true Pixar gem. Their last three films, Monsters University, Brave, and Cars 2 were all good, sure, but didn't quite match the greatness that audiences had come to expect from the studio.

Usually having an annual feature, Pixar decided to skip 2014 completely and instead release their long-gestating The Good Dinosaur later this year (which I have my reservations about...the first trailer is painfully dull) along with Inside Out, which has, by a mile, been the studio's most creative idea in years, if not ever. In short, I'm part of the camp that 110% believes that Pixar had hit a slump in recent years and interestingly enough were surpassed by sister studio, Disney Animation, with films like Wreck-it Ralph, and Frozen. But as is the case with most industries, success breeds competition and I'd bet that Pixar really wanted to recoup their crown.

Good news for them then because Inside Out is their best film since Toy Story 3, and one of their better films overall, if not their most original. 

Inside Out is all about the voices in our head. Pixar boils these down to five different feelings: Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear. Aside from the spot-on voice casting, these core emotions were solid choices because they are each just different enough from each other to warrant their existence. The film centers on Riley, an 11 year old who has just moved from Minnesota to San Francisco with her family. Inside Out is a bit of a double film. Inside Riley's head there is a lot going on, the animation is bright and vibrant -- cartoon-like while outside, in the real world, everything is realistic as the emotions displayed in Riley's head become real to those around her. Because of this duality, the film flies by...probably one of the swiftest 94 minutes I've ever had in a theater. Along the way, Pixar will amaze you (and probably borderline drop your jaw) with their collective imagination. From core memories, islands of personality, the memory dump, the train of thought (a literal train), long term memory, and everything in-between, this film is brimming with originality. And what's even more impressive is how all of it is connected seamlessly. Our brains are a well thought out world to the people over at Pixar. It's astonishing. Keep an eye out for a scene dealing with abstract thought. It's both hilarious and amazingly inventive at the same time.

Some new classic characters to add to Pixar's already historic lineup.

This is generally how excited I get when
Mac n' Cheese is for dinner.

The story and plot evolve about how you would expect, which is a tad disappointing, but not that surprising. Once again, Pixar is able to straddle the line of a children-targeted animated feature with a mature, thematic story about a girl going through a hard time in her life. At times, Inside Out can be heartbreaking and I think most will feel those tears start to well up. Not anything like the first 10 minutes of Up or the final 10 of Toy Story 3 (but again, those are some real feels right there), but sad nonetheless. Taking a step back, it's surprising because the stakes are relatively low here, but that's really just testament to Pixar's storytelling ability. Inside the mind of Riley, things are equally as emotional as Joy learns more about how all emotions are necessary to make a complete person.

As always with a Pixar film, the animation is incredible and the attention to detail is astounding. I didn't see this one in 3D, although I wish I had, but even in 2D, its colors pop off the screen and every character, environment, and object look fully fleshed out it both concept and animation. Partner this with the phenomenal voice work of Amy Poehler (Joy), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Bill Hader (Fear), Lewis Black (Anger), and Mindy Kaling (Disgust), not to mention a really well designed original score and you have one of the more technically impressive films of the year.

An accurate portrayal of me in traffic!!

So, so very original. It's amazing.

If I had to pick one complaint about the film it would be that this isn't Pixar's funniest film, especially when compared to Up, the Toy Story's, and especially Finding Nemo. That's not to say it's not funny at all, I certainly laughed out loud on several occasions, but I think there could have been a few more jokes without sacrificing any of the movie's better elements. A rather nitpicky CON, sure, but when compared to some of Pixar's best, this one falls ever so short in the comedic department. 

And I think that's an important (and final) point to make. Inside Out is not Pixar's best film. But with the likes of Up, Toy Story 3, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles, that's a rather hard pantheon to break into. It is one of their more imaginative, however, and when considering some of those same films, that is an exciting accomplishment in and of itself. 


Inside Out represents a return to form, from "good" to "fantastic", for the studio. And with the prospects of Finding Dory, Toy Story 4, and The Incredibles 2 on the horizon, there's no better time for the reigning champs to sit back on the throne that they've rightfully built for themselves.

CONS:

• Funny, but not funny enough to be one of Pixar's very, very best
• Despite its swift pace, a few plot elements seem to repeat themselves and the story plays out about how you would expect
• From a high-level overview, the stakes are rather low

PROS:

• Incredibly imaginative. One of the most original films you are ever likely to see and one of Pixar's most creative films to date
• Some truly funny moments are scattered throughout. Abstract thought was one of my favorites
• The story, while simple, has moments of sincerity that will bring tears to your eyes. Some of sadness, some of joy
• Great characters and even better voice casting choices. These are instantly iconic characters
• Wonderfully colorful. It's a beauty to watch and the animation is, per the Pixar norm, outstanding
• Works well as its own film, but certainly leaves the door open for sequels that would be equally worthwhile
• Hilarious during-credits scene
• Great balance of a children's film and mature elements that can be appreciated by older ages
• Strong original score
• Highly enjoyable from beginning to end. If you aren't laughing then you'll be sitting in amazement with how impressive Pixar's view of our brains is

Rath's Review Score: 9/10