Critic’s Rating : 4 Stars

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

 Direction: Pete Docter

Produced: Jonas Rivera

Written: Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen

Genre: Animation Comedy

Duration: 94 Mins

It’s one of those days. You are unhappy. Snappish at loved ones. Those are mood swings you cannot even explain. Inside Out is an inventive, imaginative take on the raging highs and lows with the tranquillity in between.

All changes seem terrible at first. In childhood, the desolation of it weighs down upon small shoulders with a shuddering sense of permanence. Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) has a lot on her plate with the shift from Minnesota to San Francisco mixing up her emotions. Literally. Aah, the angst of pre-teen.

Joy (Amy Poehler) headlines Riley’s essential nature, whilst keeping at bay the less savoury yet overbearing feelings like Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader) and most of all, Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The latter most essentially has the blues and much like the Midas touch transforms the protagonist’s memories into shades of melancholy. In a bid to prevent Riley from getting downcast, things go terribly wrong, leaving Joy and Sadness in a grave limbo while other emotions must keep Riley’s emotions and memories intact.

Inside Out does not offer much by way of Riley’s track, except the growing anxieties pre-adolescence has to offer when in an unfamiliar setting. Otherwise, it is all in the mind. Again, literally. It has its poignant moments like the imaginary friends who exist in the deeper recesses of memory and hilarious ones like the dream sequence. The film also solves the mystery of ad jingles and other invasive music that persistently play on repeat-mode in our heads.

There are a lot of great ideas here too – the importance of valuing and working in tandem with those different from us. The necessity of happiness and sadness to co-exist. The significance of sadness in empathy. Yet, the balance of it all, the embracing of the parts that make the whole. That and oh, the pretty colours!

The fact that it is backed by some excellent vocals in the A-list cast and a great soundtrack is an immense plus in its favour.

A family entertainer which is a delight to behold, Inside Out will leave you feeling fuzzy and satisfied like a warm bear-hug from Disney. Much like the Midas touch, but more tender. Perhaps this is just the film this columnist needed. Maybe it’s one of those days.