Reel Critics: ‘Inside Out’ is inventive and ageless

The best animated films entertain parents and grandparents equally. It’s a rare movie that also provides teachable moments and personal insight across the generations. But “Inside Out” is exactly that kind of film, certain to provoke meaningful family conversations.

Disney and Pixar created a striking psychological thriller about the inner workings of a child’s mind. Imaginative characters representing five major emotions take turns affecting the behavior of Riley, a young girl from rural Minnesota. We watch Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust working together to keep Riley safe while growing up during her idyllic childhood.

When her dad moves them to San Francisco, adolescent trauma follows. She must leave her cozy life and all her friends behind to become the nervous new kid in school. Riley’s emotions start competing with each other as she acts out her anxieties in this troubling situation. Viewers of any age can easily relate to the emotional distress on screen.

Truly inventive animation illustrates the mental operations of Riley’s mind. Short term, long term and core memories are all given vivid life in unusual ways. Chaos and confusion resolve only when all the emotions learn to work together again. One of the best pictures of the year, “Inside Out” deserves to be seen by families everywhere.

—John Depko

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‘Dope’ gives good comedy buzz

The dictionary gives us three meanings for the word “dope:” drugs, a stupid person or something really good. “Dope” the movie cleverly gives us all of the above and more.

The film centers on high school friends Malcolm, Jib and Diggy. They tool around a rough section of Inglewood on their bicycles and are considered geeks because they get good grades, are not in a gang and are totally committed to all things ‘90s.

At first look we’re not even sure what decade we’re in when we see Malcolm rocking a vintage “Fresh Prince” look. They get bullied and teased but are secure in their identities.

A chance invite to a drug dealer’s party swerves the story to very real, violent, and laugh out loud funny. Malcolm ends up with a backpack full of drugs and a gun, and the rest of the movie is spent trying to unload them without getting killed or arrested, and yet still get admitted to Harvard.

Shameik Moore is terrific as Malcolm, as are Tony Revolori (the bellboy from “The Grand Budapest Hotel”) and Kiersey Clemons as his “boys” in the hood.

Also playing a major part in the film is the soundtrack, full of old-school funk, hip-hop, and some new songs by Pharrell Williams.

“Dope” has a dizzy fresh energy that plays for laughs as well as some pointed looks at our perceptions of stereotypes. Like Malcolm’s retro dance grooves during the ending credits, this is a movie that will always be fun to look at.

—Susanne Perez

JOHN DEPKO is a retired senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. He lives in Costa Mesa and works as a licensed private investigator. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a company in Irvine.