This year has seen the usual batch of computer-animated features, and disappointingly the most high-profile of them - 'Home' and 'Minions' - have been very much aimed towards kids. Thank goodness then that, after a two-year gap, Pixar - the greatest name in the genre - are back with a new film. Like most of the studio's work that precedes it, 'Inside Out' is another successful marriage of their technical wizardry, impeccable design artistry, and masterful story-telling. The film's concept is amongst the most out-there ever put to film: it portrays people's emotions as characters in their minds, controlling their reactions and putting their mark on memories that shape that individual's personality. Pixar make this concept work magnificently, and use it to fulfill every story-telling opportunity, every joke, every emotional moment that it has the potential for.
The film's story centres on 11 year-old girl Riley (voiced by Kaitlyn Dias), and the effect moving from Minesotta to San Francisco has on her developing emotions. In her mind Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler) takes the lead over Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader) and Disgust (Mindy Kaling); although each has their part to play in helping Riley to learn through each important memory, Joy feels it is her responsibility to make sure Riley is as happy as she can be growing up. Reluctant to let Sadness have more effect on Riley's memories, things start to get out of her control when she tries to keep Sadness out of Riley's emotions on her first day in her new school. There is a mishap, and Joy and Sadness are flung from Riley's control centre (cleverly called 'head-quarters') and in to the maze of her memory, along with the key memories that make up the core of her personality. They have to make it back there before these fall away, and her other emotions make Riley go through with a rash decision in order to get her happy memories back.
 |
| If you wanted to explain to your children how your emotions work and how they effect how you think and behave, you'd only need to let them watch this film |
This really is a film that will speak to parents as much as their children. The way the mind, and people's emotions, is portrayed makes the concept something that any child of any age would be able to understand; that includes concepts such as how memories change as you grow up, and how personalities are shaped by those. Meanwhile, adults will be moved one moment at the portrayal of innocent, imaginative childhood play; then you will be laughing the next as they go in to the head of other characters, showing the emotions which are controlling their thoughts and memories.
Co-director Pete Docter was the person in charge of 'Up', and whilst this film doesn't have any moments as heart-breaking as that film, this film reinforces that he, and the rest of the Pixar creative team, know how to maximise the emotion or humour of each scene. And like that film it doesn't dumb-down, or try and sanitise a potentially complex moment - such as when Riley finally confides in her parents that she misses her old home - so it feels genuine and relatable. Similarly, when it needs to be goofy the humour is brilliantly observed and perfectly handled - the montage during the closing credits is one of the funniest things I've seen this year.
 |
| The film shows us how emotions are running things in other people's heads, interestingly different emotions are in charge - in Riley's mom's head it looks like Sadness has the lead. |
Not only does 'Inside Out' mark a return of Pixar's magic form, after the moderate successes of 'Monsters University' and 'Brave', it is their best film since 'Toy Story 3', and above all cements the fact that they are simply the best at making this kind of film. This film is a prime example of how hey can equally entertain and capture the imagination of children and adults alike, without dumbing-down or making simplistic story choices. If you have to take your kids to the cinema during the summer holidays you will quite simply not do any better than this wonderful film.
No comments:
Post a Comment