ALONG COMES MARY

Oh, Pixar…how I always try to poo-poo the power of your movies. Between the rave reviews, clever-ness and everyone’s heart skipping a beat when you release your animated flicks like the Toy Story trilogy, Ratatouille or, oh how can we forget…UP, I always reprise my role as the maybe-fan; that one wallflower on her own who doesn’t act intrigued.

While I do always enjoy me a new release from Disney and those Silicon Valley animators, I am known to play down the love. Not this time, though. Their newest gem, Inside Out, got me. It really got me, and it’s as if Pixar knew what my mood has been like lately. Let me explain:

Sometimes, when I am not sharing something fun or recalling an adventure, I am trying to keep it together. I have written on Along Comes Mary before that my depression and anxiety can sometimes get the best of me. June ended up being one of those times. Feeling debilitated on the couch, crying out of nowhere and feeling like an absolute burden to those around that I love. It got intense. Thankfully, I am getting better for the time being each day. I think that’s why Inside Out hit so close to home this past Sunday at The El Capitan in Hollywood.

Inside Out tells the story of  Riley, an 11 year old from Minnesota who loves to play ice hockey. Little does Riley know that the old saying “The voices inside your head” is for real. Since Riley was born, she’s had a headquarters inside her mind with a group of characters, literally, running her brain! We’re first introduced to Joy, a pint-sized, Tinker Bell-esque pixie who is, well, always full of JOY. Joy is joined by Fear, Anger, Disgust and sweet, little Sadness. No matter what Sadness tries to accomplish, she always ends up making a mess, feeling blue and simply, living up to her personality.

Riley, as well as the rest of the characters, get their mind turned upside down when she and her parents move to San Francisco. Joy does her best to keep Riley happy, yet, it sometimes proves difficult…thanks, to Sadness. When there’s an awful malfunction at headquarters, taking Joy and Sadness out of their command center, this leaves poor Riley feeling numb. She doesn’t feel sad. She doesn’t feel joy. Just afraid, disgusted and angry.

This means an adventure is in store for the two complete opposite friends as they start a journey to get back to helping Riley live her best life. Along the way, many core memories are revisited, and they even meet Bing Bong, Riley’s sweet, lovable imaginary friend from her toddler years. I won’t divulge much about this poignant character, other than, I do hope Riley gets to the moon.

As the plot progresses, I admit, I was either in tears or close to them numerous times. I have felt like Sadness much too often, yet, I was struck over and over again at what a wonderful friend Joy is. She never tells Sadness to ‘snap out’ of her moods, or that she needs to lighten up. While Joy certainly gets frustrated at times, she truly respects Sadness as who she is and wants the best for her. It made me think of those in my life who completely support me when I am Sadness. We learn that being sad doesn’t always to be a bad thing. It is OK to feel down. It is especially OK to be who you are, Happy and Sad do not need to be a black or white thing.

Inside Out has something, seriously, for everyone. Make sure to get to the movie on time as you’re in for a wonderful, Pixar-Has-Done-It-Again short entitled “Lava”. See it at The El Capitan and there is also a live pre-performance. Music of Light is a live, interactive pre-show from the masterminds behind So You Think You Can Dance. Combining live dancers on stage in front of a 3D screen, I will admit, this felt a bit out-of-place. I would imagine if you have very little ones, they might get anxious if they’re waiting for the film to start. Nevertheless, it is a great spectacle with favorite pop songs everyone will recognize.

Have you seen Inside Out yet? What did you think? xo

(*Disclosure: I was provided with press seats at The El Capitan Theatre to see Inside Out. All opinions are my own.)