Inside Out (2015)

I know I said I wasn't going to watch Pixar's Inside Out, but I was having a brave day on Sunday and those don't come along often enough that I can afford to ignore them. I reminded myself that I was free to switch off, therefore, grabbed a cushion to weep into, ignored my misgivings and settled in for the duration.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year you'll know that this one is something of a high-concept job, centred around the emotions who reside in the brain of eleven-year-old Riley and take control of her body and speech according to outside circumstance. Amy Poehler voices the effervescent and ever-so-slightly annoying Joy, who frequently gets frustrated with her opposite number Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith). When they get locked out of the control area, however, other emotions Fear, Anger and Disgust are left in control, and Riley's very identity comes under threat.

It's poignant, of course, and I won't deny that I shed a few tears at the end. What struck me more, however, was how remarkably clever it was, and quite how comforting it might be to somebody of Riley's age. I absolutely loved the central message that nobody can be expected to be happy all the time, and that trying to enforce a state of happiness can actually be unhealthy. I've always preferred to embrace my sadness, so... yeah, I'm right. Good.

It looks great, too - the real world looks drab and clunky compared to Riley's inner life, but that kind of feels like an accurate representation of the way things are. I loved the bright colours and the clever visual flourishes, such as when Joy and Sadness enter the realm of abstraction and then lose their physical dimensions one at a time. It's cute, it's witty and it felt more playful than anything Pixar have done since, well, ever.

No real criticism for this one, except perhaps for some sub-sitcom characterisation when it comes to Riley's parents and most particularly their inner lives. There's a time and a place for stereotyping, though, and with the focus on Riley's complex emotions I can see why Pete Docter didn't want to muddy the waters further.

Anyhow, my honesty island is apparently intact so I won't tell a lie: Inside Out didn't particularly rock my world. I'm not eleven, nor do I have a daughter, so it was never going to pack the devastating emotional punch I've been told it has for people in the target demographic. I was charmed, though, and impressed, and pretty solidly entertained. I really hope that Pixar can maintain this welcome return to form.