Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Inside Out Review - 3½ Stars


When Pixar makes a movie, fans should take notice. “Inside Out” starts with a creative idea - showing the emotional life of a child - and gives it their best twist. We meet the emotions Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger. In Pixar’s world, the emotions operate in a tower where they control a console of feelings and actions. The story follows a girl named Riley, whose world turns upside down when her parents leave Minnesota for San Francisco. At the age of 11, everything Riley knows and loves gets turned inside out. Her emotions run so wild, that Joy and Sadness get pulled out of master control. In the tradition of great childhood story telling, they must find their way home and come to an understanding of each other. You’ll want to stay and read the credits to identify the voices in the story. My favorite belonged to Lewis Black as (what else?) Anger. Occasionally “Inside Out” gets a little frenetic, but the payoff is worth the time. I came out with a tear in my eye, a laugh stuck in my throat, and a head full of my own childhood memories. Does it deliver what it promises? Pixar comedy, done well. Is it entertaining? Works on a child’s level, as well as on an adult level. Is it worth the price of admission? Another winner, in a summer of good movies.