I wasn’t sure what to expect when going into the movie “Inside Out.” A movie about emotions? I couldn’t really wrap my brain around how Pixar could pull it off. Spoiler alert: They did.
I suppose I should preface this review by explaining a little bit about what I do in my “real job.” I do pediatric healthcare marketing and copywriting. I spend my days trying to find simpler ways to explain really complex medical problems to families who may be in crisis over an alarming medical diagnosis. It can be a heartbreaking job at times, but it’s one I love because I know my words are being read by parents who need answers when they have no where else to turn.
Sometimes the things I write aren’t about heart-wrenching medical diagnoses; they can just be things that help parents be good parents. As we all know, kids don’t come with an instruction manual. They do things that blow our minds and sometimes we all need a little help understanding how they (and we) work so that we can do our jobs as parents better.
The “islands” in our mind are who we are at our core. What are your islands?
Because of what I do and my passion for providing parents with tools they need to be better moms and dads, I LOVE “Inside Out.” The film makers–working with leading scientists, neurologists, psychologists and other experts–have put together a film that is both entertaining and educational on human psychology and how our emotions and memories make us who we are. Talking about something as abstract as emotions with our children isn’t always easy, but this film provides children and their families the opportunity to talk about their emotions and who they are in ways and terms that are easy to understand for children as young a (in my opinion) four-years-old. In the weeks since we have seen the movie, my children and I have had numerous conversation about our emotions, our core memories and our “islands” that make us who we are. It has provided us with tools to discuss overwhelming feelings and the importance of all of our emotions while making sure that one single emotion doesn’t completely “take over” (like anger or disgust).
And again, keep in mind, this movie isn’t just about educating parents and kids on how the mind works; it is also entertaining. The movie kept my full attention–and the attention of my three children–from beginning to end. There is a fun adventure with wonderfully likable characters full of heart and lessons. The animation is adorable and the color are nothing short of beautiful. The film has humor for the kids and a lot of really great humor that adults (especially parents) will really appreciate.
Inside Out is a really great, great film. I highly recommend seeing it as a family this weekend. You will be really glad you did.
On a personal level, I would like to thank the film makers for this movie, because it has really reminded me the importance of my job as a medical writer and how I need to go “outside the box” and continue to find new and unique ways to explain complex medical content to families in need of help. Over the years, I feel like maybe I have forgotten how important it is to look at what I do with fresh eyes. I have a feeling that people with jobs like mine will find this movie invigorating and a source of inspiration as we find new ways to explain pediatric physical and mental health.
My family and I attended an advance screening of this movie for free so that I could write this review. All opinions are my own.
