Inside Out Review

Every once in a while, a film will be released that can immediately be identified as a masterpiece. Oftentimes, movies need time to exist for awhile and people need to really digest them before their true greatness manifests itself. In the case of a film like Inside Out, this waiting period is absolutely unnecessary. Pixar's latest effort is definitively the best movie I've seen so far this year, easily the best animated film since the turn of the decade, and one of the greatest movies that Pixar has ever released. Inside Out is something special.

The film follows an 11-year old girl named Riley whose family is in the process of moving from Minnesota to San Francisco. The plot is all about the emotions that Riley experiences as a result of the situation and the changes that are going on inside her head during this period of her life. I knew nothing other than this when I walked in to see Inside Out, and I want anyone reading this to have that experience also. This movie surprised me in so many amazing ways that I still can't comprehend just how great it was.

The voice cast was impeccably chosen. Who other than the bubbly Amy Poehler could possibly play the emotion of Joy? Alongside Poehler is Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, and Bill Hader as Fear. These five actors and actresses play off each other incredibly well and all personify their respective emotions better than I could have imagined. I couldn't have thought of a better cast for this movie.

One of the things that surprised me about Inside Out was just how funny it was. Pixar's films are always filled with humor, but Inside Out's was dizzyingly witty and oftentimes satirical, and I was laughing out loud quite consistently throughout the entirety of the running time. It might be the most I've laughed watching a Pixar film since Finding Nemo.

In contrast to the wickedly good humor, the film has a myriad of moments of heartbreaking emotion. I am not ashamed to admit that I legitimately shed a tear at least two or three times while watching Inside Out. It's truly extraordinary how connected we feel to all the characters, and as a result they feel as if they are a part of us. I was honestly deeply saddened by a handful of moments in Inside Out; when a movie can actually make me feel as sad and hopeless as the characters themselves, you know it's something special.

I don't want to get into any plot details at all. All I will say about the plot and the concept of the film itself is that it is unbelievably wise and complex. Its portrayal of emotions and how they interact with one another and how they affect the people around us rings so true. It's as if the writers at Pixar actually went inside someone's head and observed the many emotions they experience on a daily basis and then made a movie about it. The word that comes to mind is genius.

This has been a relatively short review, but that's because I wanted to keep it as vague as possible. The one thing you need to know is that Pixar has done it again. They've made a wholly unique and original film that is smart, hilarious, and strikingly poignant, one that is sure to be remembered for years and years to come. This is an absolute must-see and very easily the best movie that I've seen so far in 2015. I beseech you to go see Inside Out. It has a lesson for everyone, no matter your age or walk in life.

A+