Rent Inside Out (2015)

Disappointing - Inside Out review by MD

4 of the 5 reviewers here to date were not overly impressed with this much-praised movie, and I tend to agree with them. It may not be an original idea (see Numbskulls), but it was certainly a clever concept that offered lots of opportunity for Pixar to work their usual magic, except this time they didn't. It was way too adult for kids, and way too childish for adults; there were some great moments and one or two really fun scenes, but there were also long stretches of fairly bland, almost tedious, material which has NEVER been the case in previous offerings from this studio. The tone was awfully downbeat for much of the movie, and I got fed up with Sadness being such a drag. And, yes, the concluding 20 minutes was all too pat and contrived. I am pleased to see Disney allowed something like this to be made, but I just don't think it had that X factor that made all the others such a delight. Watch the outtakes, etc, with the credits, and see if you don't think they are better than the feature movie!

Contrived - Inside Out review by griggs

I decided to rewatch Inside Out in anticipation of seeing the sequel, Inside Out 2. My initial viewing impressed me, earning the film four and a half stars out of five. However, this second viewing was a different experience, prompting me to revise my rating downward.

On re-watching, the jeopardy and stakes in the film felt significantly more contrived. The tension and plot twists that initially thoroughly engaged me now seemed forced and predictable. Additionally, the characters, both human and emotional, were much less likeable this time around. Some, like Joy and Sadness, which I once found endearing, came across as annoying.

Overall, while Inside Out remains a beautifully animated film with a creative concept, its charm diminished significantly on a second viewing. My excitement for the sequel is now more tempered, hoping it can recapture the magic that seems to have faded from the original.

Sub-par and derivative Pixar effort - Inside Out review by CP Customer

This is a partially successful Pixar comedy which about the various (anthropomorphised) emotions that control the mind of an eleven-year old girl. A bit like the Numskulls from the Beano or 'Herman's Head', but with more of a grasp on contemporary ideas of psychology, neuroscience and philosophy of self. Has some smart ideas and a few (though, by Pixar's standards, too few) good laughs but the adventure narrative feels a bit overworked and contrived and is resolved a rather too neatly to satisfy.

Moving and inventive - Inside Out review by AER

Although there was a lot of story to digest the storytellers pulled it off with aplomb and without info dumps. It was an emotional and inventive film and I'm looking forward to Inside Out 2 this week :)

Not seen too many Pixar movies since UP but this was great. I'm very late to the feast with this film though....

Waste of Talent - Inside Out review by DG

Went to see this with my kids. My son who is 7 thought it was ok. My daughter who is 3 wanted to go home half way through(she loved The Minnions movie) Most of the Pixar movies are enjoyable for adults as well as kids but this seems to miss both audiences.

The plot revolves around the emotions in out head that make us do things day to day such as Anger, Fear......... these emotions are represented by characters in the movie that live inside a little girls head and they have to try and battle to balance her emotions day to day as she goes through growing up and moving from their family home in the country to a drab townhouse (its never explained why). The story becomes very convoluted as it battles between being entertaining and keeping us on track with the emotions the memories the islands (cant be bothered to explain those) and whats going on. It tries to be too clever and falls flat because of it. One of Pixars worst. 4/10

Overhyped and underplayed! - Inside Out review by CS

Disney don't seem to be very good at presenting original ideas, with most of their films pinching there peoples ideas and storylines and this film is no exception! Most people old enough to remember, will know this idea from the characters played in the cartoon strip 'The Numbskulls' from the British Beano comic book. Whilst Pixar appear have marketed this as an original idea, most people, here in the UK anyway, seem to think it's been lifted directly from 'The Numbskulls' and I'm inclined to agree! Anyway, after all the hype, which always puts me off a film, because if it's any good, it should sell itself, without all the marketing and toys to go with it. In fact too much attention is given to marketing nowadays, that many new films seem to be being criticised for putting the marketing opportunities, i.e. the money, before the creativity and quality of the films, again I'm inclined to agree, and most definitely feel that is the case with this film! Pixar have a really annoying habit of lifting parts of characters from other films, i.e. a hairstyle here, a face there, a body from somewhere else and putting it all together to create a new character and that seems to be exactly what they've done here as well, I even noticed Minions re-cycled here too! The storyline is simplistic, the usual theme about being yourself and comfortable within your own skin, which again Americans seem to have a really big hang up about, that and being socially accepted for who you are! I found the character of Sadness a real drag, to the point that she dominated the film and brought it down. This film had its moments and overall is quite a good film to watch once off, but i wouldn't watch it again nor would I buy it! It would be nice if Disney would stop pinching other people ideas for a change and come out with something new and original!!

More Same Old, Same Old - Inside Out review by Mehitabel

As others have said, the central idea to this animation isn't original. I remember "The Numbskulls" with great fondness...! That said, there are some clever ideas here; I liked the memory-balls and the whole notion of a library of old recollections. And also, the way in which emotions can change a memory, even after the event. The animation is of the standard we'd expect from Pixar. Although I found the hyper-bright colours visually tiring, but also, somehow, a bit disturbing, as if the film were trying to yell "Be happy! Be HAPPY!" at us, just as saccharine "Joy" does in the picture.

What does seem a betrayal of the old Pixar, the one that didn't lecture us about anything but just made us laugh (oh, those shorts...!), is that in the end "Inside Out" is just beating us around the head with the usual sentimental notions that are supposed to hold Society (well, American society) together: Family, Friendship, being a "goofball", team spirit and yet more Family. I actually stopped watching as all the other "islands" fell away, leaving only FAMILY still floating, because the sentimentalism got too much. I knew too well where the thing was going.

I know I'm not the target audience. But I do wish someone would make a film for children that suggests they might aspire to something more than hiding in the bosom of Family, until they can finally achieve the only goal worth having, and breed kids of their own...

"Up" did it, and very wonderful it was too. But "Inside Out" is no "Up".. It's just a cute little way of conveying the usual sentimentalised and unambitious message. Aim higher, Kids!