Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald

This is a tricky film to write about. Technically it’s amazing and beautiful to look at. Story wise it’s emotionally engaging and frequently funny.

Most of all I’m impressed with how imaginative it is and how the frequently wild and clever ideas are presented in such an engaging and emotionally satisfying fashion.

This must have been a difficult production to shepherd through the Pixar production process as was described by Ed Catmull in his book Creativity, Inc. Imagine what the initial story meetings must have been like given how tightly coupled the ideas, story, and visuals are in the finished product.

Amy Poehler must have worked like a dog on this one. Her manic rapidfire delivery is perfect. But everyone is excellent. The polishing and reworking that every element has undergone shows through, including the music and sound.

This is definitely a movie to see in the big screen. It’s not just the detail, it’s the vast scope of the landscapes presented — keeping in mind that all of this is supposed to be taking place inside the head of an 11-year-old girl!

Review copyright (c) 2015 by Dennis D. McDonald. For more reviews like this scroll down. To find out about my consulting go here.