It’s funny to think about how many of the most heartfelt, touching films I have seen come from an animation studio. Movies such as Wall-E, Toy Story 3 and Up strongly affect me into my adult years. Pixar Animation Studios always knows how to touch an audience.
Their newest movie, Inside Out, written and directed by Pete Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen, is no exception. Pixar released movies about the feelings of robots, toys, bugs, monsters, fish, and even cars, so when they released their newest movie about how feelings feel, the genius of this studio was confirmed.
Inside Out is about a young girl, “Riley,” voiced by Kaitlyn Dias, who moves from her Midwestern home to San Francisco. All of her actions and feelings are driven by the five emotions in her head, “Joy” (Amy Poehler), “Anger”(Lewis Black), “Fear” (Bill Hader), “Disgust” (Mindy Kaling) and “Sadness,” (Phyllis Smith).
Her emotions must figure out how to help her cope with the hardships of beginning a new life, with new friends, a new school, and a new house, without losing touch of who she is.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this film. I had high hopes that it would be a good movie, since Pixar has made such a great name for itself. But, I did not expect this movie to be as profound as it was.
The movie goes through every part of Riley’s conscious, from the control panel of her emotions, to the world of “Dream Productions,” to the room where abstract ideas are created.
Throughout the movie I found myself delving into my own mind. I related every event to events from my own life, and that is this movie’s greatest strength.
I could imagine a mother ask her child, “What emotion is driving your action right now?” and using this movie as a teaching tool to help her child handle difficult emotional situations.
The film is a wonderful reminder that it is okay to be sad sometimes, and Joy doesn’t need to run your life. The movie is perfect for all ages.
College can be stressful at times, so make yourself some popcorn, cuddle up with a warm blanket and watch this funny, thoughtful and touching story to remind yourself of what is really important.
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