Synopsis: Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.
Despite the fantastic differences that make us who we are, there’s at least one thing that we all go through and can all relate to… puberty. From new smells permeating from your body, the cracking of a blossoming new voice, hair growth in what feels like everywhere possible, a visit from the infamous Aunt Flo for some to jolts of feelings and emotions that you’ve never experienced, it’s an experience that thrusts us into the next stage of our lives. For some, puberty can start as early as 8 while others may not begin their metamorphosis until 15 or 16. Neither instance is inherently good or bad, some things are simply out of your control. As some of us gradually emerge from the elementary cacoon, others will explode from it like the Hulk out of a pile of rubble. Regardless of the path you are about to blaze, the journey is new and occasionally difficult for everyone. So, remember to be kind to one another because the human experience is hard, and because I said so. Sorry, I let Anger get the best of me.
“We all knew this day would come.”
Grab the fam and tell your friends, the alarm has sounded and it’s time to experience puberty again. Brought to us by Disney and Pixar and directed by Kelsey Mann, Inside Out 2 is a delightful reminder to be yourself. It helps remind young people together with adults that no one has it all figured out. Not only will this vibrant film make you feel seen while dazzling you in many ways, but puberty has never felt more relatable. Picking where the first film left off, the personification of emotions remains storytelling gold. Beginning with a quick refresher as to who our animated emotions are and what we’ve missed in Riley’s life, it’s not long before we get a new set of emotional visitors who will immediately be at odds with Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. With Riley’s 8th-grade year ending, the summer means the beginning of High School Riley is now upon us and so are the new struggles that come with it.
Coming in without warning, puberty hits like the friend that takes pillow fights too seriously, and with it comes Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and the too cool for everything, Ennui. Don’t worry about explaining anything to your youngsters, each new emotion is introduced and defined in a fun and organic way. This coming-of-age story of sorts quickly goes from a weekend of friends and hockey to a mental battle of Joy versus Anxiety. Joy, of course, wants to maintain Riley’s happiness, however, Anxiety is adamant that they need to prepare for her future and every possible scenario that could arise. As the two groups fail to find common ground, Anxiety, with the help of the extra-large Embarrassment, traps and trashes our familiar faces just as Riley develops her belief system and finds her sense of self. With Anxiety at the helm, Riley is becoming someone Joy and company don’t recognize, and it’s up to them to fix everything before it’s too late. There are plenty of lessons to be learned and fun to be had, but as was evident in the original Inside Out and is apparent again, Joy doesn’t always have the answer.
“The Riley we know is gone.”
Becoming a teenager on the precipice of entering high school is stressful for everyone and Inside Out 2 lays it out in a chaotically delicate way. It presents questions about friendship and friend groups, social status, integrity, self-worth, dedication, and more. At the heart of it all, it wants you to think about what kind of person you want to be and what thoughts, actions, and emotions encompass that ideal. Moreover, it makes you confront each good, bad, and humdrum moment to decide what defines you. Inside Riley’s mind, we revisit some familiar places, see new faces, and experience plenty of fun and hilarity along the way. Not for nothing, this is one of those cases where the sequel supersedes the original. The storytelling is more complex and evenly balanced, the visuals are somehow greater than before, and the additional characters add the needed flare. If you enjoyed the first film, you’re going to love this one. I only wish we could’ve dove deeper into her friendship conundrum.
Inside Out 2 feels nostalgic for adults, relatable for teenagers, and informative for those approaching the change. It’s a Pixar party and the whole family is invited. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll have a joyous time. You may even leave with a better appreciation for your own teenagers. To experience the film in all its glory, I suggest seeing it in IMAX. There are just some details I don’t think you’ll be able to appreciate in other formats fully. The score, the thrills, the voice acting, the creativity, it’s all fantastic. Disney has done it again. Its rewatchability is high.
Oh, and there is a post-credits scene that answers a huge question.
Pace & Pop
The film’s pacing is great. It was actually the first thing my son said as the credits rolled. The balance of storytelling from Riley’s perspective and the perspective of the emotions is perfectly done. What popped for me was how each emotion was utilized. In addition to getting proper screen time and focus, you get enough time to relate to them. At that age, Anger and Ennui were definitely in the driver’s seat in my head. Anxiety was probably third in command.
Characters & Chemistry
Starring: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Paul Walter Hauser and Yvette Nicole Brown
Personifying emotions requires perfect voice casting and they couldn’t have picked better actors. The dedication to bringing the characters to life can be felt in full. Amy Poehler crushes as Joy once more but Maya Hawke is by far the standout in this sequel. Her energetically spiraling performance as Anxiety is the energy that powers the story. This franchise could easily have a PG-13 third installment and the electric chemistry between Poehler and Hawke’s characters would be even more explosive. This entire cast is incredible. I can’t wait for you all to experience the Bloofy and Pouchy scene… hilarious.
Inside Out 2 releases in theaters on June 14, 2024. Stay safe and love who you are.
Rated: PG Runtime: 1h 36m Director: Kelsey Mann Screenplay: Meg LeFauve, Dave Holstein Story: Kelsey Mann, Meg LeFauve Producers: Mark Nielsen Executive Producers: Pete Docter, Jonas Rivera and Dan Scanlon Music by: Andrea Datzman Director of Photography: Adam Habib Editor: Maurissa Horwitz
Inside Out 2 is a delightful reminder to be yourself. It helps remind young people together with adults that no one has it all figured out.
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GVN Rating
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
