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Parents' Guide to

Life Inside Out

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Heartfelt look at mother-son bonding through love of music.

Movie NR 2014 102 minutes
Life Inside Out Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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Is It Any Good?

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Kids say (1 ):

High in earnestness, low on budget, Life Inside Out makes a strong case for open communication, shared interests, and a willingness to cope bravely with changing circumstances. Very natural performances, a relatable family that feels true and current, along with the thoughtful messages are reasons to see the film. Still, it's slow going at times, especially in the club scenes, with too many off-story songs and singers, most of them substandard and forgettable. There's a certain sweetness to the music of Laura and Shane, but even those songs are lacking nuance and artistic depth. Clearly, the aspirations of the filmmakers (Life Inside Out made the rounds at film festivals and was a Kickstarter project) were high and deserve appreciation. However, pacing, production values, on-the-nose dialogue and lyrics, as well as the story's predictability may disappoint some audiences. For others, Laura, Shane, and their family will touch their hearts.

Movie Details

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