Inside Out 2

Inside Out is a Pixar film that merits a sequel (or several of them TBH) and while they've made poor selections of prequel/sequels at times in the past, I'm glad that didn't scare them away from creating Inside Out 2. 

I saw this film at about the only time I could this weekend: a packed, kid's friendly showing at 11:15am. There were lots of children with their parents - a theater group I'm not used to - so I was eager to see what their responses would be. My personal excitement levels were high because Inside Out is so damn good, and there seemed to be a lot of noteworthy substance for a sequel. 

If my theater was any indication, I think both age groups are going to love this film (and from the sounds of box office, they are). It's probably a little too metaphorical for very young children, but great for kids that have a couple movies under their belts, and there are plenty of shared fun & funny moments for kids and adults. And while there may be no Bing Bong gut-punch, I was happy to find well-earned emotional beats, as was the mother sitting next to me who was sobbing :-) 

Inside Out 2 follows Riley into puberty. She's about to go into high school, hockey is her main "thing", and she's grasping with fitting in, especially as she finds out her best friends are going to a different school. That's all immediately relatable, even if it's not exactly how we all experienced that moment in time. Puberty is awkward, kinda funny, and the transition into high school can come with a lot of pressure to fit in. Wisely, the script of Inside Out 2 evolves around that shared experience. Of course there are new emotions (more on them in a moment), but there are also new concepts in this wildly imaginative world. Most endearing and poignant is Riley's sense of self, which Joy and the other emotions have been crafting out of purely positive memories. Pixar remains an animation studio that when their imagination is firing on all cylinders, it can be incredible. Obviously some of that "Wow" element is gone with a sequel, but I remained continuously impressed by all the thoughtful, conceptually impressive, and sometimes funny ideas they had (the Sar-chasm being a standout in that latter group). Coupled with new complex emotions like Anxiety, Envy, and Embarrassment, and there's plenty to chew on in this sequel, not to mention it practically leaves me begging for more sequels at different points in her life. Sure, a 25 year old Riley isn't marketable, but I'd love to continue with this story and world they've created. 

But I digress. The biggest shift with Inside Out 2 is that it was more about Riley this time. Our emotion-cast gets plenty of screen time, but I got to know the 13 year old and her personality far more. It's this component, in her search for self, that really made the emotional moments land for me. Our previous emotions return - with some new voice cast (due to money disputes between some of the actors and Disney, lame) - and each of them owns their roll fully. The replacement members are strong while Amy Poehler shines as Joy. However, it's really newcomer Anxiety, played by Maya Hawke, that steals the show. Relatable "villain", anxiety is a planner. She sees all futures and has to react not what's best in the present, but in the future. I suppose I'm an anxious-ish person - I'm definitely a planner - so this emotion hit home with a lot of the adult crowd I'm sure. Hawke breathes a lot of life into the character and her arc is wholly satisfying. 

Colorful and detailed! (And no, that's not an Avatar tree)

Unsurprisingly, Inside Out 2's animation is impeccable. The attention to detail from Pixar is always top-notch and this is no different. The "real" world can be a tad dull, if anything, if only just because of its comparison to inside Riley's brain. Throw in lots of colors and even some varying animation styles (that are the funniest bits of the film), and you've got a visual treat. And oh yeah - the original score remains perfectly fitting, particularly its main theme. 

Inside Out 2 is only slightly lesser than the original in my eyes. Maybe that's because some of the "Wow" factor wore of, but as far as I'm concerned, this is a fantastic Pixar sequel in what I hope is a long-standing series. By blending stunning animation, talented voice work, humor that can be understood across age groups, and a very thoughtful "next chapter" in Riley's story, I was left with what's likely to be the best animated film of the year. 

Rapid Rath's Review Score | 8.5/10