My Most Delightful Thoughts: Inside Out

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This was the opening weekend for Pixar's newest film, Inside Out, and you know that I was in that theater. I couldn't wait to see it - from the early reviews it looked like another hit for the studio that brought us Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and a myriad of other new classics.

I always have high expectations when I see a Pixar film. In my opinion, they are the kings and queens of Hollywood - a studio where story is paramount. Where it's not just about cheap, two second jokes that become insufferable after the 2nd time you hear them (I can only take so many fart jokes.). It's not about pandering to kids (or adults!) or cranking out another movie because it's been a few years and its time. Storytelling is the steam that drives the Pixar locomotive; it's the "something special" that sets them heads and shoulders above the rest.

So what did I think of Inside Out?

You did it again, Pixar. You did it again.

If you're not familiar with the story line, Inside Out takes us inside the head of an 11 year old girl named Riley, as she navigates young adulthood and moving from Minnesota to San Francisco. We get to see her five emotions - Anger, Fear, Disgust, Sadness and Joy. I would call Joy the second protagonist of the film; she in a sense narrates the story, and her mission is to make sure Riley's life is happy and always filled with joyful moments. But as we learn, Joy isn't the only emotion that Riley feels or should feel. Without giving away the story line, you learn how every emotion is important to Riley.

I cannot say enough good things about this film. I'd read so many glowing reviews in the weeks and months before seeing it, I was honestly a bit nervous. What if it doesn't measure up to my already sky-high expectations for a Pixar film? As it turns out, I had nothing to fear (see what I did there?).

I REALLY want to talk specifics of the film that I have been thinking about over and over again in the last 48 or so hours, but I don't want to spoil any of it for you. What I do want to touch on is the idea of core memories. At the beginning of the film, we learn that every day, every moment, an emotion is experienced. All those emotions are stored in Long Term Memory, but there are 5-6 very special memories. Those are called Core Memories. The memories and moments that happen when you're very young, and shape and color every experience in your life. Your relationship with your family, what makes you laugh, what makes you upset, etc. In the last few days I've really reflected on that concept, and what are my Core Memories. What are yours?

People have asked me if Inside Out is a "kids movie". I struggle with that answer, because while I think kids will really enjoy it, it's not your "typical" animated movie. The best way I can describe it is to think of the movie Up, which Pete Doctor also directed in addition to Inside Out. Both are similar in that they're cerebral films - they get you to think and ask questions but in a beautiful way that's still very entertaining. I had the same reaction to Inside Out as I first did when I saw Up. Do you recall that flashback scene (with ZERO dialogue, by the way) with Carl and Ellie, where Carl is remembering their first meeting as children, their marriage, and her passing? I remember watching that scene and thinking (between my ugly-cry tears), holy crap. I'd never seen anything like it from an animated film.

Pixar has changed the game of animation. No longer it a medium that's just for kids, or even geared towards kids. I saw just as many childless adults in Inside Out as I did families. I had a very similar experience when I first saw Toy Story 3. At the very end of the film, I was trying to deftly wipe away the crocodile tears going down my cheeks and turned to see that each of the 6 other adult women that I was with were all crying too. (Pixar and Kleenex really should partner up - that seems like a missed opportunity.)

The following quote from Nick Schager of the Daily Beast (from his article here) best sums up why I loved Inside Out. Nick writes, "For the past twenty years, Pixar has reigned supreme in the animated realm, in large part because its movies aren't simply witty, or beautifully crafted, or light years more clever than their competition - they also, at their finest, tap into profound questions about what it means to be a child, and what it means to begin becoming an adult. Pixar is a studio interested in creating stores about the most essential, and universal, of human experiences. And in that respect, Inside Out may be its crowning achievement to date."

Couldn't have said it any better, Nick.

Have you seen Inside Out? What are your thoughts?

Have a magical day!