Pixar’s “Dream Productions”: Maggie’s Review
Streaming now on Disney+ is Pixar’s “Dream Productions,” a four episode interlude between “Inside Out” and its sequel. The 20 minutes episodes are created in a mocumentary style to show the audience the Hollywood backlot that creates Riley’s (Kensington Tallman) dreams based on her greatest memories, fears and whatever else might impress the head of the studio (Maya Rudolph).
Set about a year before Riley’s tumultuous turn into teenagedom in “Inside Out 2,” “Dream Productions” focuses on Paula Persimmon (Paula Pell), an acclaimed dream director who struggles to create material as Riley enters her teenage years. Following the promotion of her assistant director Janelle (Ally Maki), Paula is given a new assistant Xeni (Richard Ayoade). While Xeni pushes Paula to try more new, adventurous dreams to compete with Janelle, Paula continually returns to nostalgic favorites from Riley’s childhood, like Rainbow Unicorn, until she is forced to adapt or lose her dream director position.
While the emotions of “Inside Out” make appearances through direct to camera interviews throughout the series, the employees of Dream Productions are the main focus of the mini-series. Rather than the humanoid avatars of emotions, dreams are produced by colorful little beans. It’s a bit harder to connect with these little lumps than Joy, Sadness and their ilk. Paula doesn’t seem personally invested in Riley until the final episode, but along the way her story doesn’t seem much connected to Riley or the rest of “Inside Out.”
“Dream Productions” is very cute and chock full of Hollywood production tropes, but doesn’t seem to line up with any particular audience. The concept would have been perfect for a 15 minute short ahead of “Inside Out 2,” with each episode containing three to five minutes solid entertainment. But blown up to more a than 80 minute mini-series, “Dream Productions” doesn’t have enough jokes or emotional content to hold interest. For lovers of the films, the mini-series deviates enough from Joy and the other emotions, that “Dream Productions” might feel like a completely separate world for stretches of each episode. The mocumentary format takes its “insider” perspective a little too far and feels more like its directed at people working in the industry than at any audience, young or grown.
“Dream Productions” is streaming now on Disney+.
