SYNOPSIS: 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.

REVIEW: 

Joy: Come on, group hug! You too, Anger.
Anger: Don't touch me.

Can you imagine if all your emotions, or at least the major ones, were little characters inside your head battling to see who will take control during pretty much every moment in your life? Now imagine that, depending on who takes control and how impactful that moment is, it can affect you for the rest of your life, be it positively or negatively. Leave it to Pixar to come up with a movie that not only delves in this in such an insightful way, but manages to make it entertaining and an all-around special treat for kids and adults alike. Just when you think Pixar can't possibly come up with another hit, BAM! Now I'm not going to say that this is the best one yet because that's just too tall a task to accomplish. Pixar has such an unprecedented success rate among animated films. With this one, again, not the best, but pretty darn good and in the upper percentiles. Personally, since you asked (I mean you did, didn't you?), if I had to pick one as my favorite Pixar it would have to be The Incredibles. You know, the whole superhero thing . . . I'm a big fan of all that. But this one is really good too. As mentioned, it's insightful and emotional (well of course emotional, right?). It takes you to various spectrums; it is clever and very realistic, funny and touching. I'll admit, I got teary eyed at least twice. The film is just too cute overall and you've got to admire the imagination of the filmmakers to have come up with this idea and how to present it.

Now let me tell you, what a cast! Just about every character was superbly matched to the right actor/actress. This helps make the movie that much more successful. I don't even want to mention them because I would probably list the whole cast. Everyone did their part and did it well. The way each character was presented was also quite special, simple yet special. Sometimes simplicity is a good thing and making these characters look the way they do just totally made sense. The mom looks like a mom, the dad looks like a dad, the daughter looks like a young girl, all of them somewhat typical and nothing necessarily extraordinary about them . . . you know, normal. Even the emotions look "typical" or "normal". Anger is red, disgust is green, fear is pale blue-ish purple, and sadness is more of a deeper blue. My favorite one, and probably my favorite aspect of the film in general, is joy who has a few colors going on. What I love about her is that she is the only one who really glows. I noticed that almost right off the bat and I thought that was so appropriate. The various "sets" and "props" inside Riley's head were also very appropriate and imaginative. It just all made sense. The story itself is rather basic, family relocation, but it's all the thoughts and emotions in their heads, and in our heads too, that makes any story complex. Who better to bring this to the big screen than someone who has been involved with several Pixar hits, including directing Monsters, Inc. and Up, Pete Docter? His co-director, Ronaldo Del Carmen, has also been involved with several animated films and this is his first directing job of a major motion picture. Together they have given us a gem. I'm telling you, those Pixar people, they know what they are doing. I mean even the pre-movie short films are always beautiful and special too.

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