Inside Out
Recommended. Age: 13+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
Riley is eleven, and her family moves far from home. Inside her mind, Joy and Sadness get lost and must find their way back. Joy learns that Sadness helps Riley ask for help and feel her family's love. One of Pixar's best, and it is wise. Its lesson is that sorrow is not an enemy. Sadness is what lets Riley tell the truth and run back to her mother and father. The family is whole, loving and patient. The one thing to add at home is that feelings do not steer us alone. We also have a mind and a will.
For parents
PG. Lumen's age label is Teens & Up because Catholic News Service rated it A-II, adults and adolescents. Common Sense Media says 6+ and Decent Films says Kids & Up. Many families will find it fine for older children. The label follows the Catholic classification. Small children may be upset by a huge clown, a dead mouse in a dream, long falls and the loss of a much-loved imaginary friend who fades away for good. Riley takes her mother's credit card and boards a bus to run away. She turns back and tells her parents the truth. Language is limited to words like 'shut up,' 'moron' and 'nitwit.' Tell your children that feelings are neither good nor bad in themselves (Catechism 1773). What we choose to do with them is what counts. The film leaves out the mind and the will, so add them. Ask: why could only Sadness help Riley? What did Riley do wrong, and how did she make it right? When you are sad, who can you tell?