(From IMDb.com)
I spent the pre-lunch hours of my Father’s Day delightfully with my daughter Elisabeth taking in the stark emotions of Joy and Sadness and the many shades in between in the full Regal Cinemas theater for matinée showing of the 15th Pixar picture from Disney.
She’s 25.
And as the four of us sat there, her boyfriend George Three and my dear wife Karen included in that crowd of kids and parents and grandparents of all ages, we laughed and sighed and maybe even sat on the edge of our seats in worry. Tears? Not for me — and I Elisabeth, Karen and I went through a whole package of Kleenex three weepers in a row at Toy Story 3 — but some people may have been moved to leakage at the more more emotional parts.
The directing and writing team of Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen have come up with a solid tale, and interesting story that very well straddles the sensibilities of the adult world and children’s parameters of know-how.
The animation is beautifully Disney Pixar from the get-go, too, and the voice acting of Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyliss Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Mindy Kaling as Disgust and Bill Hader as Fear is perfect for all the scenarios these five bodies put in emotions go through.
The premise is quite smart. These characters work in Headquarters, inside the brain of 11-year-old Riley, voiced by Kaitlyn Dias. Joy tries to push most of Riley’s buttons, but that gets more difficult when Mom (Diane Lane) and Dad (Kyle McLaughlin) take their only child out of a happy home, school and hockey league in Minnesota and move to San Francisco.
Life becomes way more difficult, and the inner workings of emotional conflict is demonstrated in ways that should instruct the young ‘uns in the crowd in many ways about what’s going on in their head and hearts. It’s carried out in a story that’s appealing and intellectually stimulating enough for the grown-ups, too.
Joy and Sadness learn about how they relate on a journey through Riley’s difficulties in her new home, and the 94-minute feature is an entertaining and revealing look inside everybody’s head. Their frustrations and breakthroughs deal with imagination, dreams, abstract thought, imaginary friends and memory dumps. Yes, it’s a lot like real life.
It falls short of Toy Story 3 and Up on my Pixar all-star list, only because parts of it remind me of the former and other parts of it bring to mind the latter. Yet Inside Out is a definite winner on the first official day of summer 2015.
Pixar also provided a sweet short before the film that’s worth passing up the popcorn line for, too, an animated song-story about an Hawaiian volcano who sings a longing and lonely love song every day until it finally reaches the right ears.
What’s your favorite Pixar film, and why? Do you want a lesson with your animation, or just a good story, and why? Do you think it’s a good idea to point out early and often to your kids how their feelings fit in with each other, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
This might be the best-reviewed movie of the year. Universal praise. My Bride when with my 8-year old and they thought it was magnificent. I’m trying to convince my 13-year old to go with me but she’s at that “too-cool” stage. I can’t go alone. That’d look weird!
LikeLike
If you can talk your 13-year-old into going with you — great photo with her at the gallery, by the way, she’s growing into quite the beauty! — she’ll love you for it, Mark.
LikeLike
Pingback: Blog Safari 6/23/2015 | Riley Central
I may just have to make a trip to see this. 🙂 With or without a child in tow. Or four. You make a good movie sound even better MBM.
LikeLike
Thank you, MBC. You and the grands will be in happy mode!
LikeLike
WE e went to see it with one of them! I LOVED IT! And I loved loved loved LAVA!!!!!!! ❤
LikeLike
Yes, Lava was the best, MBC. Let’s sing that song at our BloggyVille party. 🙂
LikeLike
Agreed! I already have it saved on youtube. But only the audio. I want the whole thing. Start memorizing!
LikeLike
I lava you ……..
LikeLike
I’m filling my ocean with happy tears!
LikeLike
What a great review! You’ve definitely put it on my to fin out about list. We’ve been to the cinema a lot this month but this one had not come on my radar. Thank you xx
LikeLike
You’re welcome, Justine! You and the boys will love it! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
hehe ive already talked to my youngest about it and he says a big yes plus there is someo ther film, pixels? That sounds cool too x
LikeLike
Yeah, Pixels is about old-school games like Pac Man coming to life, with Adam Sandler. I’ve seen the trailers. Right up kids’ alley. And maybe me, too. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha yes us adults like these things too i thought it suonded cool x
LikeLike
Did Hader ever slip a little Stefan into the flick? 🙂
LikeLike
I didn’t catch it, Austin. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would’ve been odd, but a hilarious inside joke for the adults! 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds great. My son asked to see it tomorrow!
LikeLike
You and he will really enjoy it together, Kerbey. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We just left the theater, and he is still singing the Triple Dent song! I did need a tissue a few times, especially re: Bing Bong.
LikeLike
Oh, boy. Yeah. Bing Bong paid the ultimate price for his gal, didn’t he? I’m glad you and the boy liked it, Kerbey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, my husband took the kids to see this one on Friday while I was working. My daughter (8) and husband loved it, son (12) thought it was pretty good. All of these movies tend to incorporate some sort of lesson into them and usually the lesson is on that’s pretty obvious and learned in other ways. I think it’s the clever delivery of the message that hooks the viewers.
LikeLike
Yes, Marissa, you are correct. Clever is their buzzword at Pixar. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard nothing but great things about this movie. Can’t wait to see it.
LikeLike
You will think about it during and after, Nancy Tex. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for this positive review. Must talk to my granddaughters. School’s out soon. 🙂
LikeLike
That would make you an even more popular grand that day, Tess!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 😀 😀
Going to the movies these days costs as much as going on vacation, so I’m glad to read your positive review. 😛
LikeLike
Go to the matinee, Tess. That at least cuts a few bucks off the top. 🙂
LikeLike
Grandparents take the children to the movie theater not me!!! It’s on though as that “to do summer list”!!!
LikeLike
I think you need the me-Gatorette time, Cheryl. SMART.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually very true and my parents love taking them all to the movies. Hey, whatever floats the boat!!! Then they talk about it for days afterwards and I am clueless and it’s fun to be clueless…
LikeLike
I don’t think you are ever clueless, Gatorette.
LikeLiked by 1 person
On occasion I want to be!
LikeLike
😉 Yeah. Me, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a must-see, Mark. So many are talking about this movie. Lots of adult lessons in those “kid” movies. ☺
LikeLike
I do appreciate when they layer the film such as this, Van. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will have to go with my kids to watch it! 🙂
LikeLike
I think this will give you a lot to talk about when you get home, Vonita, and after a good time enjoying the movie, that makes it even better! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t wait! 🙂
LikeLike
I appreciate this review. I have veered off of enjoying any new kids’ films and tend to ignore them. I say I’ve outgrown them, only I do have a few favourites and Toy Story and Up are on my short list. So if you like those I figure your review has much merit! That list also has on it Aladdin mostly for Robin Williams’ maniacal banter.
LikeLike
Pixar still puts out a smart picture, I’m reminded again and again, Rose. Enjoy if you go to this one!
LikeLike
We do aim to see this film. It may rain a considerable amount of our vacation, so it may well be then. In terms of favorite Pixar films, it’s hard to choose a favorite. I love Up and WallE, A Bug’s Life, and Ratatouille, but I think I may well like the shorts the most. For the Birds is hysterical. That dog from Up tho, he kills me. I crack up every time we meet him again. 🙂 “I love you. I know I only just met you, but I love you because I’m a dog,” or whatever. Gah, so funny!
LikeLike
Yes, so much good about Pixar’s animal world, Joey. The preview included a whole movie coming out soon about animals getting along in a human-race type situation. A fox cititizen and hare police person in particular. It had me! 🙂
LikeLike
i have heard nothing but raves for this movie and i can’t wait to see it. my fav, (so far), has been up, always makes me weep. i absolutely think it’s a good things to validate kids’ feelings and to teach them it’s okay to have them from a very young age – bravo to pixar for this!
LikeLike
Sounds like a worthwhile movie Mark. Thank you so much for bringing us this review. i have a friend (Penny) with a slew of kids – I’ll pass this along to her. 🙂
LikeLike
Penny and her slew of kids can have a lot to talk about when they get home from this one, Paul! It’s a good teaching launch point. You and I in fact talked about how interesting the premise this movie held when I previewed it a year or so ago when I also was writing for that other site.
LikeLike