Pixar has often had a sequel problem, rarely able to recapture the magic from an original movie (though most of the "Toy Story" sequels are excluded from this sentiment). After the success of 2015's "Inside Out," a sequel was bound to happen, and it's refreshing to see the animation studio handle a follow-up with such strength and clarity. "Inside Out 2" might not have the originality of the first, but it's a worthy successor by all accounts.
Give or take the wonderful "Coco," the first "Inside Out" feels like an end to Pixar's dominance. They've struggled to find their footing in recent movies - largely kneecapped by release strategies brought on by the pandemic - so "Inside Out 2" is a real return to form for Pixar, and one which is desperately needed.
"Inside Out 2," directed and co-written by Kelsey Mann, follows Riley (Kensington Tallman), the protagonist from the first movie. Riley is just turning 13, which means she is experiencing an entirely foreign set of emotions. Joy (Amy Poehler) remains relentlessly optimistic amongst Fear (Tony Hale, taking over the role from Bill Hader), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), and Disgust (Liza Lapira, taking over from Mindy Kaling). Joy has always been the presiding emotion in Riley's pre-teen years, but as time goes on things change.
The movie introduces Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and Anxiety (Maya Hawke), her newest prominent emotion. When Riley heads off to hockey camp, desperate to make the team for the upcoming school year, the emotions become at odds with one another in an effort to serve Riley best.
"Inside Out" featured one of Pixar's best voice ensembles, and the returning cast and the new set of emotions are a continued strength of Riley's story. Hawke's frantic portrayal of Anxiety really captures the hallmarks of the particular emotion. Through her voice performance, she is able to convey how an anxious mind can feel like it is going in several directions and standing still all at once.
Like many Pixar films, "Inside Out 2" works across the board for most members of the family. The movie will undoubtedly be too deep for the youngest audience members, but the bright colors and lively character animation and performances are able to bring laughs and pratfalls that will entertain. "Inside Out 2" will speak loudest to those in Riley's age group, who are discovering the bumpy ride of puberty.
The movie effectively relays its message without clobbering you over the head with it (not all Pixar films can say the same). The emotions in the movie are competing to coexist with each other, but in reality they don't have to be. Each emotion is as valid as the next, and Riley's journey through discovering that will allow young audience members to figure it out alongside her.
| Movie title | Inside Out 2 |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2024 |
| MPAA Rating | PG |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | Pixar’s follow up to its 2015 hit is a refreshing return to form with a strong voice ensemble and a story that works on multiple levels. |
