Fans have been anxiously anticipating Pixar’s next film, Inside Out, which is due in theaters next summer. It was handed the baton to represent the studio’s next film after Pixar decided to delay The Good Dinosaur, which had been scheduled to debut this May. This places extra pressure on Inside Out, but there is no better person up to beating high expectations than Pete Docter (Up, Monsters, Inc.). A screenings of a scene from the film played incredibly well at last summer’s D23 Expo, and now we hear that it received raves from the CinemaCon audience on Wednesday!
There is a substantial difference in the crowds that attend the D23 Expo and CinemaCon. The former is a convention for Disney fans, while the latter brings together movie theater owners. At the D23 Expo, the screened Inside Out scene earned a rapturous response, invoking the big animation panel’s biggest laughs. The dinner scene shown (no spoilers) gives us a great look at how the mind works, with the emotions of several people, young girl Riley and her parents, interacting with one another. Considering the scene is only a few minutes in length, it works incredibly well, setting the complex (and intricate) rules of the world in the film quickly and in entertaining fashion.
It seems that Pixar has completed additional work on the scene since then, as a more polished version played for attendees of CinemaCon. One would imagine that a better response to the scene would play out at the D23 Expo, considering that those who attend the Disney event are more likely to be, well, Disney fans. However, as we have seen time and again, Pixar has the ability to appeal across a wide range of demographics. Here is a selection of reactions to the footage at CinemaCon:
- The clip played very well with the crowd, who laughed along with many of the jokes. (The Hollywood Reporter)
- An extended look at “Inside Out,”…won a rapturous response at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Directed by “Up” maestro Pete Docter, the film looked fresh, funny and blazingly original. Its concept may sound esoteric. Its execution is anything but. (TheWrap)
- The other major sneak was for Pete Doctor’s “Inside Out” and this footage got more reaction out of the theater exhibitors than anything at CinemaCon so far…It was a very smart and funny back and forth and the audience clearly loved it. It’s unclear what the actual storyline is, but there is great potential here for another Pixar crowd pleaser. (HitFix)
Further, here are some reactions on Twitter:
Disney showed an amazing 2 minute clip from Pixars INSIDE OUT. Looked phenominal. Loved what they're doing in this film.
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) March 26, 2014
INSIDE OUT scene featured a daughter at a dinner table with mom & dad and showed what was going on in each characters head. So well written.
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) March 26, 2014
Just saw the first clip from Pixar's INSIDE OUT – hilarious, smart and cute. This is gonna be great.
— Mystery Devin Faraci (@devincf) March 26, 2014
The great reactions from CinemaCon should only reaffirm the excitement level for this film, which is easily the most buzzed-about Pixar film in some time. We have a bit of a wait for the film, though, as it is not due out in theaters until June 15, 2015. The studio should be readying a teaser to be released (hopefully within the next few months), and it may just include some of the footage from this dinner scene.
