I attended a local press screening of Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out with some of my kids. I’m excited that Inside Out is finally in theaters so I can talk about it…and see it again! All thoughts and opinions on the movie are my own.
If I could leave you with just one message in this review it is this: go see Inside Out.
Inside Out, in true Pixar fashion, was a gem of a story – deep and meaningful and adult-friendly – hidden in cute, kid-friendly packaging. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from seeing the trailers and clips online but once again Pixar blew me away with their excellent story creation.
Nothing like this has been done before.
On the way home from our screening, the kids and I talked about the symbolism scattered throughout the movie. Honestly, I can imagine a college psychology class doing a week-long discussion on the movie.
I can’t wait to see it again.
I would recommend Inside Out for kids of all ages – even the youngest – all the way up to adults (with or without children). The animation is stellar – vibrant in color and detail – and the story can be enjoyed and understood on multiple levels. For kids, it’s a cute, colorful, sometimes silly story. For adults, it’s a meaningful, thought provoking journey.
About Inside Out
Do you ever look at someone and wonder what is going on inside their head? Disney•Pixar’s original new film “Inside Out” ventures inside the mind to find out.
Based in Headquarters, the control center inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind, five Emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), whose mission is to make sure Riley stays happy. Fear (voice of Bill Hader) heads up safety, Anger (voice of Lewis Black) ensures all is fair and Disgust (voice of Mindy Kaling) prevents Riley from getting poisoned—both physically and socially. Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith) isn’t exactly sure what her role is, and frankly, neither is anyone else.
When Riley’s family relocates to a scary new city, the Emotions are on the job, eager to help guide her through the difficult transition. But when Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind—taking some of her core memories with them—Fear, Anger and Disgust are left reluctantly in charge. Joy and Sadness must venture through unfamiliar places—Long Term Memory, Imagination Land, Abstract Thought and Dream Productions—in a desperate effort to get back to Headquarters, and Riley.
Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”, “Up”), produced by Jonas Rivera, p.g.a. (“Up”) and featuring an original score by Michael Giacchino (“The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Up”), Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out” opens in theaters on June 19, 2015.
Meet the Characters in Inside Out:
JOY (voice of Amy Poehler)
Joy’s goal has always been to make sure Riley stays happy. She is lighthearted, optimistic and
determined to find the fun in every situation. Joy sees challenges in Riley’s life as opportunities,
and the less happy moments as hiccups on the way back to something great. As long as Riley is
happy, so is Joy.
FEAR (voice of Bill Hader)
Fear’s main job is to protect Riley and keep her safe. He is constantly on the lookout for
potential disasters, and spends time evaluating the possible dangers, pitfalls and risk involved in
Riley’s everyday activities. There are very few activities and events that Fear does not find to be
dangerous and possibly fatal.
ANGER (voice of Lewis Black)
Anger feels very passionately about making sure things are fair for Riley. He has a fiery spirit
and tends to explode (literally) when things don’t go as planned. He is quick to overreact and
has little patience for life’s imperfections.
DISGUST (voice of Mindy Kaling)
Disgust is highly opinionated, extremely honest and prevents Riley from getting poisoned – both
physically and socially. She keeps a careful eye on the people, places and things that Riley
comes into contact with – whether that’s broccoli or last year’s fashion trend. Disgust always has
the best of intentions and refuses to lower her standards.
SADNESS (voice of Phyllis Smith)
None of the other Emotions really understand what Sadness’s role is. Sadness would love to be
more optimistic and helpful in keeping Riley happy, but she finds it so hard to be positive.
Sometimes it seems like the best thing to do is just lie on the floor and have a good cry.
Fun Facts About Inside Out:
PICTURE THIS – The background memories on shelves inside or outside of
Headquarters are shots from the “Married Life” scene in “Up.”
ROAD TRIP – As Riley and her parents trek to San Francisco, they come across birds
on a telephone wire from production designer Ralph Eggleston’s 2000 short film “For
the Birds.”
GLOBAL DÉCOR – The globe in the Riley’s classroom has been used in all the “Toy
Story” films.
FAMILIAR FASHION – One of Riley’s classmates is wearing a camo pattern made up
of “Toy Story” characters.
STUCK ON YOU – Some of the background city cars of San Francisco have bumper
stickers from “Cars.”
TECH SAVVY – Dad’s company, Brang, is a nonsense word intended to sound like a
startup that would fit in in the San Francisco tech scene.
SIGN HERE – A sign on a parking meter in San Francisco reads, “Quarters and Dollar
Coins or Barter During Burning Man.”
IT’S ALL ABOUT LOCATION – As a tribute to the Walt Disney Family Museum, the
filmmakers set Riley’s hockey rink in the exact spot the museum is located in San
Francisco.
Introducing LAVA:
Another word of advice: get to the theater early enough to see the short, “Lava,” that shows in front of Inside Out. Lava is a short and sweet love story told in song and beautiful animation. Like Pixar’s previous love stories that feature “uncommon” couples, Lava is a love story that will stir up emotions and have you going, “Awwww!”
About LAVA: Inspired by the isolated beauty of tropical islands and the explosive allure of ocean volcanoes, “LAVA” is a musical love story that takes place over millions of years.
From Pixar Animation Studios, director James Ford Murphy and producer Andrea Warren.
Connect with Disney/Pixar and Inside Out:
Like INSIDE OUT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarInsideOut
Follow INSIDE OUT on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PixarInsideOut and https://twitter.com/headquarters
Follow INSIDE OUT on Instagram: https://instagram.com/PIXARINSIDEOUT/
Follow INSIDE OUT on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/disneystudios/inside-out/
Visit INSIDE OUT on Tumblr: https://insideoutheadquarters.tumblr.com/
Follow Disney/Pixar on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DisneyPixar
INSIDE OUT is in theaters NOW!
© 2015, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
I love how thought-provoking this movie seems, can’t wait to see it!
This movie looks like so much fun and I like that Amy Poehler and Mindy Kaling are in it. I like the animation and the story. I will have to go see this movie.
We’re really looking forward to seeing this! Sounds like a great movie and the animation looks fantastic!
This looks like a cute movie to take the family to. I now my grandson will enjoy it.
I love Amy Poehler and Mindy Kaling! This sounds like a great movie for the kids and even the whole family.