Much has been said (criticized, would be a better word) about the lack of creativity that affects Hollywood: eternal franchises, remakes of classics, recycling of ideas already seen packaged in ultra mega definition formats. In short, the list goes on and on. As long as there is money involved, lack of scruples and willingness to adapt old ideas, there is plenty to go around. Some even put companies like Pixar in this bag. And that's fine, we've seen better times, so it's possible to think, with total justification, that the company is looking to stretch the bubble gum when it has sequels to Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles in the pipeline. But, honestly, I think it's enough to see the quality of Toy Story 2 and 3 to doubt that statement. For it is one thing to make an extra movie, in order to get more money and another, very different, is to make it with the aim of expanding the universe outlined in the first installment and deal with new issues.
The truth is that it is also possible that Pixar is not acting as nobly as I think, but Inside out is, without a doubt, a compendium of everything learned in the last 30 years. And then some.
With a premise as simple as it is innovative and daring, Peter Docter, the director, manages to build an entertaining story that handles complex but extremely human concepts with ease: feelings. And the main achievement of Inside Out is not in mixing entertainment with reflection; something that Pixar had already accustomed us to. The greatest achievement is that it manages to erase the metaphor that unites both elements; the fact and the meaning are the same thing. That "joy" and "sadness" are lost in the brain of Riley, the protagonist, means literally that. This makes the emotional punches she throws felt immediately; there's zero latency time to digest what's going on. And the film keeps moving forward, something that forces you to stay on your toes. To which one responds delightedly, because Riley's story is as much hers as it is all of ours.
The truth is that I can say little about the reflections the film leaves you with, because the film is basically an invitation to get to know yourself better. To listen to those voices in your head and ask yourself how your headquarters are configured. And here you get as many conclusions as there are people in the world.
Undoubtedly a must-see film that marks a before and after in animated films. Even in 3D Pixar knows how to take advantage of this technology. And, without exaggeration, within the cinema itself.
