Inside Out Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

From Disney Studios and Pixar Animation comes the tale of a young girl’s emotions as she goes through some life-altering changes. This is Pixar at its best again!

Genre: Animation / Comedy / Drama

Director: Pete Docter & Ronnie del Carmen

Cast: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diana Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Richard Kind & Frank Oz.

Run Time: 94 min.

US Release: 19 June 2015

UK Release:  24 July 2015

German Release: 01 October 2015

Inside Out, a Pixar movie set inside the head of Riley, an eleven-year-old girl, was released in the US and UK quite some time ago, but only arrived in German theatres last month. With just a month separating it from The Good Dinosaur, I decided to review both movies around the same period, back to back. I went to see Inside Out in cinemas when it first came out and was pleasantly surprised by its originality and cleverness, something we haven’t seen from Disney or Pixar in quite a while.

Inside Out received overwhelmingly positive reviews and critical acclaim, with some calling it one of Pixar’s best films in years. I couldn’t agree more. This animation shakes up the clichéd formula of recent Pixar (and other studio) productions. I found Inside Out to be a return to the golden age of Pixar, reminiscent of Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and WALL-E.

I won’t go into too much detail about the plot, because this is one of those rare movies that should be experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. Here’s what you need to know: when Riley and her family are forced to move from their home in Minnesota to San Francisco due to her father’s new job, her world is turned upside down. For the first time, she experiences what can only be described as depression.

The story is inventive, fresh, and deeply original. It balances smart jokes for children, who were bursting out in laughter during my screening, with an emotional depth meant for adults. I was surprised at how moving this film was, managing to revive familiar memories of childhood and the emotional confusion that comes with growing up.

Inside Out operates on several levels. It offers a beautifully layered look into the psyche of a preteen girl coping with a life-altering change. Since most of the film takes place inside Riley’s mind, it’s her emotions - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger - who take centre, as the main characters. Despite their childlike behaviour, these emotions must learn to cooperate, trust, and respect each other to help Riley through her problems.

The film is educational in the best possible way. It teaches children and adults alike that emotional balance is essential for mental well-being. In today’s world, where stress dominates our lives, that message feels more relevant than ever.

If I had to nitpick, the middle section, when certain characters are making their way back to the control centre, feels a little drawn out. A few shorter scenes might have tightened the pacing without sacrificing emotional weight.

Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) are wonderfully written, and their interactions are both funny and profound. Joy, the de facto leader of Riley’s emotions, learns that sadness isn’t something to suppress but an essential part of being human. The film beautifully illustrates how joy and sadness, though opposites, are ultimately two sides of the same coin.

Riley, voiced by Kaitlyn Dias, is incredibly relatable. Dias gives a natural, heartfelt performance that allows audiences of all ages to relate to her character. Richard Kind, as Bing Bong, is another standout: sweet, funny, and deeply touching in the film’s most emotional moments.

Visually, Inside Out is stunning. The contrast between the vivid, colourful world inside Riley’s mind and the grey, muted tones of her new life in San Francisco is masterful. The colour palette not only distinguishes the two worlds but also mirrors Riley’s emotional state, bright and full of life in Minnesota, dull and grey in San Francisco.

The music complements the story perfectly, adding emotional depth without overwhelming the narrative, something Pixar has always excelled at.

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Verdict: Inside Out is a masterpiece of modern animation and storytelling. It’s been a long time since a Pixar film has moved me like this; probably not since WALL-E in 2008. It’s smart, emotional, and genuinely heartfelt. I’ll admit, I even shed a tear or two. Aside from running five to ten minutes too long, this is one of the most memorable films of 2015. Inside Out fully deserves a 9.5 out of 10 - it’s near perfect.

Did you watch Inside Out yet? If not, I highly recommend adding it to your watchlist or buying it when it’s released on Blu-ray and DVD. If you’ve already seen it, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

I’ll be reviewing The Good Dinosaur next Monday, so stay tuned! My next review will go up tomorrow, fittingly Christmas-themed, as it marks the first day of Advent.