This is just a fantastic film. Are there flaws? Yes. And those are mainly about the logistics of the story, where some things feel a little underexplored, and the sense of human agency is very blurred. But overall, the film is full of charm, imagination, heart, and humor, with inspired visuals, and well-written characters with an excellent allegorical plot.
Basically? The little people in your head have a hard time figuring out your life, and when major life shifts come into play at the prepubescent stage, things go out of hand. Heading the emotions in Riley's head is Joy, an enthusiastic character who strives to keep Riley happy at all times. Her goals seem reasonable and sympathetic, but she's really the major reason things go wrong, because she constantly stifles Sadness, her antithesis, who she cannot see as useful to Riley's mental state in any way. There are a lot of creative and logical mechanics in Riley's mind, and when a catastrophe removes Joy and Sadness from HQ, Riley's remaining emotions are left to try to emulate Joy, and only produce preteen mood swings and negative emotions, failing to keep up Joy's goal for an optimistic moving experience. As the plot goes on (some find the pacing tiresome, but I think the danger and misfortune is just enough), things get dire, and along the way, Joy learns about how her approach has affected Riley's well-being and the climax is suprising, touching, and promotes a very important message about mental health and interpersonal relationships. It's one of the most inventive and enchanting Pixar films, and also one of the most emotionally rich. I recommend it to everyone.
Among Pixar's finest.
This is just a fantastic film. Are there flaws? Yes. And those are mainly about the logistics of the story, where some things feel a little underexplored, and the sense of human agency is very blurred. But overall, the film is full of charm, imagination, heart, and humor, with inspired visuals, and well-written characters with an excellent allegorical plot.
Basically? The little people in your head have a hard time figuring out your life, and when major life shifts come into play at the prepubescent stage, things go out of hand. Heading the emotions in Riley's head is Joy, an enthusiastic character who strives to keep Riley happy at all times. Her goals seem reasonable and sympathetic, but she's really the major reason things go wrong, because she constantly stifles Sadness, her antithesis, who she cannot see as useful to Riley's mental state in any way. There are a lot of creative and logical mechanics in Riley's mind, and when a catastrophe removes Joy and Sadness from HQ, Riley's remaining emotions are left to try to emulate Joy, and only produce preteen mood swings and negative emotions, failing to keep up Joy's goal for an optimistic moving experience. As the plot goes on (some find the pacing tiresome, but I think the danger and misfortune is just enough), things get dire, and along the way, Joy learns about how her approach has affected Riley's well-being and the climax is suprising, touching, and promotes a very important message about mental health and interpersonal relationships. It's one of the most inventive and enchanting Pixar films, and also one of the most emotionally rich. I recommend it to everyone.