Film Review: 'Inside Out' is the story of your childhood

Film: Inside Out

Director: Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen

Cast: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Diane Lane, Kyle McLachlan

Rating: ***1/2

What's it about:

Know that term: a happy childhood? If you go by Riley's story, the explanation is fairly simple. Joy was in charge. Sadness rarely, if ever, got to get you blue. Disgust, obviously, had a voice you couldn't or wouldn't shut up. Fear would make the best bodyguard ever. And anger, well, somebody just needs to get that guy a tall glass of ice. Like forever. You move to a different town/city. Hell, nobody likes moving. And Riley is no different. Her small town was just fine. San Francisco is just weird, cold, clammy, has rats, their neighbourhood has vegan pizza. Ewww.... Who needs that, right? Well, in Headquarters, where Riley's (and yours, we're sure) emotions live, Sadness wants to touch those shiny balls they call happy memories and taint them a wee shade of blue. Joy wants none of it, there's a tussle and boom! The two strongest emotions are gone. You're 12, going on 13, what do you do? Fear takes charge for a while, Disgust takes a swipe and Anger, well, he's been aching for some action.

Locked outside HQ, Joy doesn't want to share core memories with Sadness. Both love Riley and both want to go home. But it's a long way off. The others can't hold fort, at least not for too long. And then the 'towns' that made her personality crumble? Will Riley be the same? Can old friends - even imaginary ones - guide you home?

What's hot:

Lava. Not kidding. That Pixar short you'll see before Inside Out is really something. Really. I won't bore you with adjectives (why tell when you can show!). Don't miss it. Inside Out is the story of your childhood. Or why you never really lose your inner child. How your emotions run things inside you. How you function because some of them never rest, even when you're asleep. Well, most of them do, but you get the picture, right?

Not giving too much away here, but here's the thing. Little girls anyway have a lot more happening in their noggins than little boys. Which is why this film is bound to make you laugh and leave a lump in your throat at the same time. How many movies can claim that? Animation, detailing, story structuring bring on the wows. Purity of expression sounds like a load, but then that's because the words have weight.
You feel it all with Riley - joy, sadness, fear, anger and disgust - and become part of that journey. Parents and teachers have so much to learn from and educate with, through this film. The very fact that it doesn't try to sugarcoat childlike enthusiasm with dumbed down characters, says a lot. Emotions, too, it would seem, have personalities, that play a part in shaping who you are and end up being.
But enough with the big words and the preachy blah blah. This film's greatest victory is creating a film with characters children of all ages will recall and love. Like most Pixar films do.

What's not:

Just getting the job done is not enough. Anybody can get from point A to point B. Riley's imaginary friend Bing Bong is barely there and that's such a shame! The movie has heart, I'll give it that. But you can't just build and build and then tear down (bear with my metaphors and just watch the film, you'll get it) and not leave enough to build again.
Some shortcuts are entirely boring. A journey needn't have that many detours. And after being around for that long, seriously... how can you not find your way home?
Hold on, let me get on the train of thought and wander a bit....

What to do:

 Okay, I'm back. It's to tell you this. It's the movie to catch this week. But here's the thing. Your family will love it. Your kids more so. You, if you're the grown-up reading this, will find the child in you, losing your way home. Joy isn't in charge in my head. At least not as much as I'd like her to be. And that should tell you what you need to know.