Entertainment : From the Back of the Balcony: ‘Inside Out’ is summer's best movie

“Have you ever looked at someone and asked yourself, ‘What’s going on inside their head?’”

In a summer full of repeats (Another cartoon movie, another Mad Max, another Magic Mike, another “M-I really watching another Tom Cruise spy movie?”), Disney’s Pixar pros answer the above question with an animated movie as original as a love song about volcanoes (more on the volcano song later).

As soon as I saw the trailer for “Inside Out,” I started looking for the first place to see it. I found it last month in the world’s second-best theater, the Starlight Cinema in Independence. And yes, this week (after the Fair, and before or after the State Baseball game and Eden Aid 100th celebration) I plan to take the girls (granddaughters for sure, daughters if they will come along) to the Palace to see it again.

Seeing the four emotions struggle for control of the computer in a little girls brain reminded me of “Gateway to the Mind,” the 60s and 70s educational films that personified the brain as a “little man” operating a computer who represents “the thinking side of Joe’s brain.”

The story

I thought of that educational cartoon, which we saw in elementary school, as I watched the four main characters “Joy, Sadness, Fear and Disgust” operating the computers inside the brain of 11-year-old Riley, whose life turns upside-down when her family moves from small-town Minnesota to the crowded streets of San Francisco.

The four main emotions bring to life the variety of feelings that Riley experiences as she tries to adjust to a new school, city life and hockey in California. Along the way, the feelings begin to realize the importance each of them plays in Riley’s overall happiness.

“Inside Out” is more of a drama than a comedy, but the way the interactions in human brains are personalized in a variety of conversational situations is at times laugh-out-loud funny.

Away from her friends, and expressing feelings her parents have never heard her express before, leaves Riley feeling more lonely than ever. The four emotions have to overcome their own control issues and learn to work together to help Riley be happy.

Why you should go

It’s sweet. It’s funny. It’s original. Kids will love it. Adults, too.  It’s got the humor, action and emotions of “Up” and “Toy Story 3.” And the Palace has brand new air conditioners – something you will appreciate this week.

What you should know before you go

The movie is rated PG for “thematic elements and action danger,” but to me deserved a “G” rating. I don’t remember hearing any lines that would get me in trouble with my daughter if my granddaughters repeated them.

There is one thing, perhaps, that may affect some local residents more than it would most other people. As a community that has mourned the loss of way too many young people lately, the scenes showing the memories of Riley as a child may be a bit emotional  – or more – for those still dealing with that kind of loss.

My favorite part (Part 1)

The funniest parts of the movie show the voices in the minds of men arguing with their wives, impatient bus drivers, and a teenage boy who panics when a teen girl talks to him. Like the best humor, those parts are so incredibly funny because they are so incredibly true.

My favorite part (Part 2)

At the beginning of “Inside Out,” after the previews, comes one of the most charming animated short movies I have ever seen. When you hear the first notes of “Lava,” you may think it sounds like some kind of parody. But soon you will be lost in the strange, sweet story of two volcanoes that fall in love, sung by a duo accompanied with just an ukelele. That song quickly became very popular and has already been translated into several other languages (it sounds great in Croatian), although I assume that English is one of the few of the world’s languages in which “lava” and “love” sound somewhat similar.

I haven’t been to the theater for too long now, but plan to be there this week. Also: The Minions are returning to the Palace soon. I am looking forward to discussing that with you then.