The Film
Each Pixar release is truly something special. The great thing about these animated movies is that they really do appeal to all ages. Even though each film can be classified as a "cartoon," they're smart, funny, and interesting to watch. They're also really beautiful -- sometimes in more ways than one.
Such is the case with Inside Out, which is possibly Pixar's most "adult" movie to date. Oh sure, it's colorful, has cute characters, and the main human is an 11-year-old girl. That said, the movie is a lot more complicated than that, bringing out emotions both on-screen and off.
That's because the movie isn't so much about the little girl, but really focuses on how her mind processes (and sometimes discards) thoughts, interactions with other people, events, memories, and emotions.
And those emotions go on quite the rollercoaster ride -- with you in tow, of course. After all, Riley (voiced by Kaitlyn Dias), the aforementioned girl, has a lot to process when her parents (Kyle MacLachlan and Diane Lane) turn her entire preteen world upside down, by moving her from Minnesota to San Francisco. No hockey, no friends, and no decent pizza brings out Sadness (the perfectly melancholy Phyllis Smith). That doesn't please the perky Joy (Amy Poehler), who is very much used to being in charge. When Joy decides to put Riley back on the happy train, the two emotions get lost, leaving Riley alone with Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader), and Anger (Lewis Black).
That sounds about right, but Inside Out is even more complicated than that -- and a lot more complicated than any Pixar movie to date. It's funny and cute, but also heartwarming and incredibly sad. (In particular, that Memory Dump scene has me reaching for the tissues every single time.) It's complicated because so is life. Because real life isn't all Joy, although this movie certainly is, even when it's making you blubber like a baby.
Trying to get in touch with your emotions about this movie? Consult Matthew Passantino's theatrical review of Inside Out.
The Picture
It shouldn't be surprising that Inside Out is a gorgeous looking film. It may be one of the most colorful that Pixar has ever created, and that's pretty evident in this 1.78:1 image. The 3D is pretty enjoyable, too. It doesn't really rely on gimmicks, although there's an occasional pop-out here and there. Instead, the 3D creates an incredible depth that really adds to the experience of moving around inside this little girl's head. More importantly, it doesn't dim the film one bit. Both the 2D and the 3D versions of the film are really bright, with a rainbow of strong colors throughout. Also, this image is a super-sharp one. Each strand of hair stands out -- and that includes the peach-fuzz on all of those colorful characters. It's just a really bright, enjoyable movie to watch, both in 2D and 3D.
The Sound
Again, you probably shouldn't too shocked that Pixar has given this film an active, fun soundtrack. It should be noted that the Blu-ray defaults to DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1, but there's also a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. The dialogue is really the focus here and the 7.1 track delivers the perky Amy Poehler, a breathy Phyllis Smith, and all of the other characters really well. However, there's also a lot of fun surround sound here. The room rumbles when Joy and Sadness get sucked into the memory tube, when grandma's vacuum cleaner makes an appearance, and when the islands begin to crumble. Even the gum commercial is pretty immersive. Michael Giacchino's score is also a standout. Overall, it's a fun track that perfectly matches the image and tone of the film.
The Extras
Despite just the one 3D-enhanced short, this set is bursting with other goodies. The feature disc has a really cute new cartoon called Riley's First Date, which brings back all of the main characters from the feature film. If you like Inside Out, this is a must-see. There's also a short about the women that worked on the film, an audio commentary with director Pete Docter and co-director Ronnie del Carmen, and a featurette titled "Mixed Emotions." The latter is definitely a highlight, with the filmmakers talking to experts on how the mind actually works and how to bring that to an animated film.
The bulk of the production is covered on the bonus disc, which has five featurettes, a set of deleted scenes/storyboards, and a series of short sketches. Docter is present throughout the special features, which cover discarded plot ideas, characters, editing, and more. There are also separate featurettes on the sounds of the film and its score.
Final Thoughts
Really, there's no such thing as a bad Pixar movie. (C'mon, Cars 2 wasn't that bad.) However, Inside Out is one of the most touching, complex movies that the studio has ever put out. Even though Pixar has given us some of the saddest animated moments ever, this is the one that probably had me crying the most -- and this is quite the statement, considering the end of Toy Story 3. Of course, not everyone likes a good cry, but Inside Out is still one you'll want to pick up, thanks to an excellent AV presentation and a great collection of extras.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
