Inside Out 2, Pixar’s latest release, “glimmers with diamond-hard truths about the complex business of being a human” and features one of the year’s best punchlines. As the highly anticipated sequel to the 2015 hit, Inside Out, this film could be the standout Hollywood entertainment of the summer.
Pixar’s new offering follows a similar premise to its predecessor and 2022’s Turning Red, centering on a 13-year-old girl navigating the challenges of puberty. While Turning Red was confined to Disney+, Inside Out 2 enjoys a full cinema release, despite some feeling it has the hallmarks of a straight-to-streaming sequel. Nevertheless, Inside Out 2 stands strong on its own and might be the most entertaining mainstream film Hollywood offers this season.
Inside Out 2 revisits Riley Anderson’s mind (voiced this time by Kensington Tallman), where five anthropomorphized Emotions—Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—steer her actions. As Riley faces the turmoil of adolescence, including a hockey camp trip and her best friends attending different high schools, the Emotions struggle to maintain control. This sequence, a witty parody of a high-tech espionage movie, is both hilarious and heart-wrenching, as Riley’s world is upheaved once more.
The film introduces four new Emotions that disrupt the existing team: Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), Embarrassment, and Envy. These additions provide a fresh conflict, addressing some viewers’ critiques of the original film’s simplicity. Despite minor flaws, such as the color mismatch of Envy and Disgust, the new characters enhance the plot’s dynamism.
Inside Out 2’s storyline benefits from dropping the first film’s “Islands of Personality” concept in favor of the more poignant “Sense of Self” theme. The new Emotions’ takeover and subsequent disposal of Riley’s Sense of Self propel Joy and her team on a mission to restore Riley’s former self, emphasizing the nuanced nature of human emotions.
Directed by Kelsey Mann, Inside Out 2 excels with its blend of fast-paced comedy, adventure, and profound insights into teenage life. The film is packed with jokes and clever puns, including a memorable “sarcasm” gag that delivers one of the year’s best punchlines. While the film depicts Riley’s intense emotional struggles, it hints at a hopeful future with the potential introduction of Contentment in a possible Inside Out 3.
Honestly speaking Inside Out 2 stands out as a delightful and insightful sequel that captures the complexity of adolescence with humor and heart, making it a must-watch this summer.
