"Inside Out" Is Pixar's Best Film in Years

Pixar established themselves as the pinnacle of animated filmmaking with films like "Toy Story", "The Incredibles" "Finding Nemo" and "Up!". There's even gems to find in their lesser films, such as "Cars" or "Brave" that set the studio apart from other animators such Dreamworks. However, despite their output remaining better than the competition, it has been awhile since we've seen the creativity of the studio in full swing; not since the final installment in the Toy Story series has a Pixar film truly been 'great'.

I'm pleased to announce that's changed with their latest outing, "Inside Out". Pixar doesn't just meet the bar that they set for themselves with their classics, but they exceed it. "Inside Out" is far and away the studios greatest film.

Centered in the mind of a young girl named Riley, we're introduced to the emotions who help Riley operate as a human being: Joy (a fabulous Amy Poehler), Sadness (the always reliable Phyllis Smith), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Anger (Louis Black, effectively cast), and Fear (Bill Hader). Joy is the clear leader, running the show and making sure Riley's memories are stored away for safe keeping.

Things are running pretty smooth for Riley as she adjusts to moving from Minnesota to San Francisco, until Sadness gets in the way and causes Joy and herself to be separated from the central headquarters. The duration of the film sees the rest of the emotions trying to keep a grip on Riley, while Sadness and Joy journey and avoid getting lost in her subconscious.

Where "Toy Story" made us see childhood (and our toys) in a whole new way, "Inside Out" is also a coming of age story, but an even better developed one. There's nothing simple about this movie. Without going in to too much detail, this is one of the most carefully constructed movies of the year; each detail is painted so beautifully and given such depth. Even the emotions, especially Sadness, are given very deep complexities that make it impossible for the viewer not to admire them. This is a film that tugs on your heartstrings; I was a sobbing mess by the end, and not because it was "a sad movie", but because "Inside Out" takes you full the spectrum of emotions just as Riley is feeling them. Our heart breaks when she's sad, we laugh when she's happy, and seeing her with her family is one of the year's most heartwarming moments. This is a film that is incredibly concerned with its main character, and it's so rare to see that in any film, let alone an animated one.

But a lot of the praise definitely deserves to be placed on Poheler and Smith, so smartly cast, that they rise above voice performances in the same way Eddie Murphy and Ellen DeGeneres did in their respective animated outings. Poehler is clearly riffing on her Leslie Knope from "Parks and Recreation", but gives it much more heart to where she's not just an endearing caricature. And Smith makes perfect use of her comically droll delivery. As Phyllis in "The Office", Smith was always great at playing the butt of the joke with an almost pathetic twist. But here, she takes a character with no purpose, and gives her a lot of depth. The other emotions underestimate Sadness, but out of all of them, she truly understands Riley the best, and Smith really gives her underdog a heart the audience can root for. Kaling, Hader and especially Black are great as well, and keep things from getting too serious at times.

Beautifully animated, empathetically delivered and expertly cast, "Inside Out" isn't just the year's best animated film; it's one of the best films of the year hands down. I challenge you to find a film that manages to make you cry, laugh and smile as much as this one will. Go on, I'll wait.

Grade: A+

Oscar Chances: At this point, I'd say Animated Feature is a lock. It's got the critical raves, and the box office. It's sad the Academy is doing away with the expanded Best Picture field, because this is a film that deserves to be nominated for Best Picture.