Yet it's also the smartest project they've ever had in mapping out a landscape for its key players. Pixar is known for its deft balancing of gut-busting comedy and actual drama, and the animation studio does so again with Inside Out. Various metaphysical obstacles come alive as parts of Riley's personality crumble around them - a metaphor for the youngster transitioning toward her teenage years.

They go on an epic quest to rejoin their friends at headquarters, journeying through towers of memories.

The outside stress factors turn into brainy chaos for the five colorful characters when Sadness accidentally creates trouble and she and Joy end up in Riley's memory banks. But Riley's life and internal feelings are thrown into turmoil when she leaves her friends and hockey team behind, moving from Minnesota to San Francisco with her parents (Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan). Since the girl was born, the incessantly cheery Joy (Amy Poehler) has been running the show and pushing the right buttons in the control center of Riley's brain alongside her crew of Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Anger (Lewis Black).

You're bound to feel the whole bunch watching a child's mind come alive in the most imaginative ways.ĭirected by Pete Docter - the man behind indelible Pixar classics Up, Toy Story and WALL-E - the animated film (***½ out of four rated PG opens Friday nationwide) peeks at the goings-on in the noggin of 11-year-old Riley (voiced by Kaitlyn Dias). It's good to get your emotions in check before watching the exquisite Inside Out.

Inside out movie release