Movie Review : Inside Out

Author : Allie DiNunzio

Director: Pete Doctor

Cast: Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Bill Hader

Synopsis: Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) is a happy, hockey-loving 11-year-old Midwestern girl, but her world turns upside-down when she and her parents move to San Francisco.

Riley’s emotions — led by Joy (Amy Poehler) — try to guide her through this difficult, life-changing event. However, the stress of the move brings Sadness (Phyllis Smith) to the forefront. When Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind, the only emotions left in Headquarters are Anger, Fear and Disgust.

Movie Review:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Although Inside Out is a story about Riley, it’s her five emotions that tell the tale. Joy runs the show while Riley’s others emotions, Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Sadness, are more than willing to stand by the wayside.

As Joy takes the reigns as the leader of the other emotions, all are in agreement it’s in Riley’s best interest to gain as many positive memories as possible. And why shouldn’t they: Happiness is the best feeling compared to her sidekicks emotions.

When Riley and her family move away from their home in Minnesota to San Francisco, Sadness seems to be the dominant emotion inside of Riley’s mind. This confuses the emotional gang as they try to cope with the sudden change in Riley’s state and their evolving roles. As a result of this, Joy has the hardest time trying to understand what’s happening as she tries to correct the flaws that emerge.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

During the chaos of the moment, Joy and Sadness wind up lost inside of Joy’s once happy mind as joyous moments turn sad and are all but forgotten as they try to once again find their way home. Throughout their journey, Joy and Sadness meet the various “workers” who control every part of Riley’s brain and reunite with a number of old friends from her past.

Inside Out is a cleverly interpreted story about the vast intricacies of the mind and how memories, dreams, and imaginations work. As Riley deals with the physical surroundings outside of her body, her emotions are also learning on the inside how to deal with these changes.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

At it’s simplistic form, Inside Out is a coming of age story about a young girl learning about her emotions as they seek to learn and understand the human they control. It’s about the ending of youth and innocence and the start of young adulthood and the new exciting journeys that await.

Inside Out hits theaters Friday June 19th, 2015!

 

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