Do you ever look at someone and wonder what is going on inside their head? Disney•Pixar’s original new film “Inside Out” ventures inside the mind to find out.
Based in Headquarters, the control center inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind, five Emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), whose mission is to make sure Riley stays happy. Fear (voice of Bill Hader) heads up safety, Anger (voice of Lewis Black) ensures all is fair and Disgust (voice of Mindy Kaling) prevents Riley from getting poisoned—both physically and socially. Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith) isn’t exactly sure what her role is, and frankly, neither is anyone else.
When Riley’s family relocates to a scary new city, the Emotions are on the job, eager to help guide her through the difficult transition. But when Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind—taking some of her core memories with them—Fear, Anger and Disgust are left reluctantly in charge. Joy and Sadness must venture through unfamiliar places—Long Term Memory, Imagination Land, Abstract Thought and Dream Productions—in a desperate effort to get back to Headquarters, and Riley.
Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”, “Up”), produced by Jonas Rivera, p.g.a. (“Up”) and featuring an original score by Michael Giacchino (“The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Up”), Disney•Pixar’s “Inside Out” opens in theaters on June 19, 2015. 
I loved this movie. Frankly, I am surprised to hear myself say that about an animated children’s film. Unlike most of its genre, Inside Out is not overly silly. And I quickly became wrapped up in little Riley’s emotional adventures. As we join Joy and Sadness in a journey through Riley’s mind–from the Long-Term Memory storage, which looks like an endless maze of library shelves stacked with candy coated bowling balls; to the Memory Dump, a cold dark place where old memories are buried into the sub-consciousness; to Dream Productions, where dreams are scripted and played out as sleep movies; to Imagination Land, full of creativity and merriment– the mishaps along the way are fun and fascinating, making you wonder how they will ever get back to headquarters.
With Rage, Fear, and Disgust in charge while Joy and Sadness are lost, we watch Riley ride a rollercoaster of emotions, losing her joyful spirit and sinking into—well— rage, fear, and disgust when her whole world is turned upside down by a move to a new town, which is actually a very normal reaction to the situation. But in the end, Joy and Sadness are found, and Riley adjusts to her new home, finding new purpose, new friends, and new happiness.
What we learn is that all of our emotions are good and serve a purpose in our lives, and that all of our emotions work together to make us who we are.
Parents take note: this movie is shot in 3-D. The animation is great and the 3-D effect is perfect. So while this movie will be fun for young movie goers, they will need to be able to wear the special glasses to see it.
Inside Out is rated PG and releases in the theater on June 19.
Disclaimer: I was invited to attend the media movie screening.
