12 Giant Plot-Holes You Didn’t Notice In 2015’s Biggest Movies

9. Why Not Just Send The Core Memories Home Directly? - Inside Out

So, the entire premise of Inside Out is that Joy and Sadness have to return the Core Memories back to the brain hub control centre after their mishap accidentally exiles them out in the vast landscape of Riley's mind. While they're out there, they encounter various characters, including maintenance workers who have a direct line to the control centre (thus explaining how odd memories can pop into your brain every now and then). It's a nice idea, but it leaves the almighty plot-hole that Joy could merely have used the direct pipe-line to send the "lost" core memories back to control centre without having to carry them back herself. It's not like there'd be a threat to them without her being there, since Sadness was outside of the control centre too and was apparently the only one empowered to ruin memories. Peter Docter is even aware of the issue, saying they wouldn't have had a third act if that was possible (not a good enough excuse), and that the idea had been added in late (presumably for the disposable gag), so the screenwriters had no chance to account for it.