After nearly a decade, Pixar's Inside Out 2 is here. Even after so much time, the first film holds up and remains the gold standard for the studio.
That's in large part due to how moving it is. While delivering the same kind of gut punch as its predecessor was always going to be a tall task, Inside Out 2 successfully moves the franchise forward. Unlike some Pixar properties like Toy Story, which is grasping for straws at this point, the Inside Out series could have long legs.
In short, the sequel is arguably better than the first. There is never a moment as hard-hitting as Bing Bong's sacrifice in the first film, but Riley's adjustment to being a teenager is shown brilliantly.
As for the new emotions, headlined by Maya Hawke's Anxiety, they are all handled extraordinarily well. Writers Meg LeFauve (who co-wrote the first film) and Dave Holstein have a clear handle on the troubles teenagers face.
It makes for Pixar's best effort since Turning Red. Coincidentally, both films depict a teenager going through changes we all face. Perhaps this is a sign that instead of running from personal stories, the studio should embrace them.
Inside Out 2 review
Picking up a couple of years after the events of Inside Out, Riley (now voiced by Kensington Tallman) is still thriving. She is the star player on her hockey team which features her best friends Bree (Sumayyah Nurddin-Green) and Grace (Grace Lu).
Inside Out 2's opening sequence depicts a high-octane hockey game. The first film looked great, but this is the earliest case of the animation team stepping up their game for the sequel. From the closeups of the puck to the smoothness of the action, it's a visual spectacle.
After the standout game, the high school varsity coach, Coach Roberts (Yvette Nicole Brown), invites the girls to a three-day summer camp. This is an opportunity for the girls to make the varsity hockey team that features Val Ortiz (Lilimar).
However, their plan crumbles when Bree and Grace reveal they will attend different high schools. Riley, who hit puberty that same morning and is experiencing a wide range of extreme emotions, is upset by this.
Inside Riley's mind
Upon arriving at the camp, Riley hits it off with Val and wants to impress the older kids. She leaves her friends behind and begins losing her self of sense.
Inside her mind, Joy (Amy Poehler) is trying to keep everything afloat. Up to this point, Joy was doing a remarkable job keeping Riley positive and discarding (essentially suppressing) any bad memories.
Once the “puberty” button goes off in the control room, there is no turning back, as any parent can attest to. Enter Anxiety (Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser). As one character in the film says, there's a “lick for every pop.”
The OG emotions of Joy, Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Tony Hale), Disgust (Liza Lapira), and Fear (Tony Hale) are initially cordial with the new ones. Anxiety then hijacks the control room to help Riley fit in with the varsity team by rewiring her sense of self.
This sets the OG crew on an adventure to regain Riley's values. They have to journey to the back of her mind to do so.
Suppressing emotions
A brilliant addition to Inside Out 2 is Riley's sense of self. In the first film, audiences saw the Islands of Personality. Beneath those, Joy has constructed Riley's belief system, creating her sense of self.
To create it, Joy took various positive memories from Riley's past and planted them in the abyss where Bing Bong was seen last. They create a spiderweb-like structure that reaches the control room. These beliefs include positive affirmations and such that make Riley who she is.
When that's thrown off by Anxiety, who believes Riley has to compromise those beliefs to fit in, it sends the teenager spiraling. It is a relatable tale for anyone who has entered a new school but is depicted in a palatable way.
A funnier sequel
Not that Inside Out wasn't comedic — the sequel is hilarious. A new character, Bloofy (Ron Funches), is introduced. The character is akin to Dora the Explorer and looks to the audience to interact with his questions.
It's a hilarious bit. Instead of Dora's backpack, Bloofy has a talking fanny pack.
The sequel also doubles down on what made the first film funny. Sadness continues to mope around and reluctantly take part in the adventure. Liza Lapira and Tony Hale do a great job filling in for Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader, respectively. In the case of the former, Lapira does a great job channeling Kaling in the various one-liners she delivers.
Bigger stakes
Inside Out 2 ups the ante with its stakes. The OG emotions embark on a sprawling journey across Riley's inner workings. Going to the back of Riley's mind is easier said than done.
Plus, Riley's mind becomes more complex thanks to the new emotions she's experiencing. The first film featured the Train of Thought and Imagination Land (which has since been taken over by the teen's crushes on boy band members).
Those return in the sequel, but now there are the risks of natural disasters such as “Sar-chasms” and “Brain-storms.” The natural disasters are one of the cleverest moments in the entire film.
Also, in the human world, Riley is facing a huge challenge. Being cool in front of the high schoolers is a relatable emotion, even if it seems trivial as an adult. We've all been there and Inside Out 2 isn't afraid to make Riley the bad guy at times.
It's a vast change from the first film. Riley was still a sweet pre-teen last time around. As a teenager, she faces feelings of angst and insecurity. Not to spoil anything, but she is not a perfect friend, and her insecurities get the best of her.
And still, the film ends on a high note. They land the plane on a note that doesn't let Riley off the hook and brings all the emotions together. It's fair to say that the overall themes of the two Inside Out films are similar, but more of the same isn't bad when you expand upon ideas.
Should you watch Inside Out 2?
Unlike most sequels, Inside Out 2 does a remarkable job of regaining the spirit of the first film while improving upon it. It has been a long time coming, and it would have been easy for Pixar to phone it in.
Director Kelsey Mann helps bring an even more vibrant visual language to the sequel. The textures of the emotions look even crisper and the set pieces are breathtaking.
On top of all that, Inside Out 2 tackles Riley's teenage years in a way that's both exciting and heartfelt. I don't know if future sequels are in the cards, but this film certainly begs for a follow-up.
Pixar rarely makes bad films — they're more prone to making an unnecessary and safe sequel/prequel — but Inside Out 2 is a notch above their best. It's truly special for a long-awaited sequel to knock it out of the park as this one does.
Grade: A+
Inside Out 2 will be released on June 14.
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