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Here, the mind belongs to an 11-year-old girl named Riley, where the story's main characters—her five primary emotions—are headquartered: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. When a major change happens in Riley's life, we watch how the personified emotions deal with the stress, and the mental trauma that unfolds when one is suddenly displaced.
Directed and co-written by Pete Docter, and co-directed by Ronnie del Carmen, Inside Out is a psychological drama-comedy that will, without a doubt, deeply touch you—if not make you weep. Although grown-ups will mainly benefit from the story's clever illustration of the undertakings of the mind, especially the mind under great stress, a layer of it is ingeniously kid-friendly, which makes the movie appropriate and endearing to all ages.
The superior Pixar animation is utilized in the design of the mind's factory: from the Headquarters down to the Memory Dump. It's an interestingly designed mindscape, and we get to visit places like the Conscious, Subconscious, Imagination, Dream Productions, Abstract Thinking, Personality Islands, board the Train of Thought, and even meet the candy-crying Bing Bong, Riley's imaginary friend, and get lost in the storage of memories—colorful marbles shelved in a labyrinth of high walls.
The suspense and adventure here is how the emotions, led by the irritatingly manic and tiresomely positive and energetic Joy, voiced by Amy Poehler, and the hilarious Sadness (Phyllis Smith), save Riley from permanent damage.
There are some forced and slightly cheesy humor, especially in the beginning, but as the movie progresses, you discover gems of wit, and you are swept away by the drama of Riley's emotional and mental state, get lost in a surreal adventure infused with dark comedy and drama, always at the emotional edge of your seat.
Inside Out, a profoundly moving, powerful take on the universal truths about the human psyche, is a must-see for everyone, especially for parents. You will leave the cinemas wiping away tears, with more room for understanding and compassion.
4 out of 5 stars
Opens August 19, 2015 in Philippine cinemas
Cross-published in InterAksyon.com
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