'Inside Out 2', the much-anticipated sequel to Pixar's 2015 hit 'Inside Out', dives back into the intricate workings of the mind of Riley, now a teenager.
Directed by Kelsey Mann, this film continues to explore the vibrant and emotional landscape within Riley's head, introducing new characters and expanding on the themes of the original.
The story picks up a few years after the first film, with Riley navigating the tumultuous waters of adolescence. The blaring red 'PUBERTY!' alarm reverberates through the hearts of all parents, and is a nice touch. Riley’s emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust – are back in Headquarters, facing new challenges that come with growing up. The introduction of new emotions, such as Anxiety, Ennui and Embarrassment, adds depth to the narrative, reflecting the complexity of teenage years. Anxiety is the core emotion of this film, so strap in.
The voice acting is top-notch, with returning actors such as Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith reprising their roles. Their chemistry is as strong as ever, bringing both humour and emotional depth to their characters. New additions to the cast, like Maya Hawke as Anxiety and Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment, are great and showcase the nutso bananas time growing up can be. French actor Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui is perfect, and utterly recognisable to anyone who has ever met a teenager. Unfortunately the brilliant Ayo Edebiri as Envy is underutilised, and the emotion could have perhaps been left on the cutting room floor.
'Inside Out 2' is really a movie for adults and older teens. Younger kids will have a blast with the colours and fun, but won’t be attuned to many of the situations the movie explores. Adults will see younger versions of themselves and cringe, or current versions of their own children and quake with fear. Insights into Riley’s parents’ minds ring true too, and are jokes only adults will get. There is also a seriously trippy scene with a flying bum bag, which the whole audience will get a kick out of, but for very different reasons.
There is a LOT going on in this movie, and for much of the time it seems like the writers tried to jam a bit too much in. However, it all comes together to wrap up seamlessly by the end. The business of the storyline might instead be a meta representation for anxiety, and how all of us – even those of us who seem to have it all together – are actually total sh.tshows.
