Inside Out 2 Is Animated Crack. Wait, is that good? Is that bad? Well, let’s see, shall we? My family decided to take me to go see Inside Out 2 in the theaters for Father’s Day and I just have to say that this animated film is something to behold.
I’ll be honest, I thought that when Disney purchased Pixar, all the creative brilliance would be completely Shanghaied out of the company. Totally destroyed. All of the upstartness, and David vs. Goliath brilliance would get shellacked out and that the company would start delivering colorful cardboard instead of the epic animated experiences that we have come to revel in. But Inside Out 2??? To quote the greatest philosopher of our time: “Crack is Whack.”
Inside Out 2 – the sequel starts with a delightful nod to nostalgia when an adorable old lady with twinkling eyes and white hair toddles into the scene. “I remember whennnn…” She’s quickly shooed away by our favorite characters, Joy and Sadness, who think it’s too soon for her to show up and I knew we were in for a humorous ride with this sequel that is determined to pull out all the stops. Clearly, they’re in for a surprise, as “Inside Out 2” perfectly balances humor and heart, just like the original.
The original movie took us inside Riley’s mind, where her emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—ran the show. After moving to a new city, Riley’s emotions were in turmoil, but Pixar’s magic brought everything back to balance. Now, in “Inside Out 2,” Riley is dealing with the chaos of adolescence. Joy is still leading the emotions at headquarters with her colorful crew. But as Riley blows out her 13th birthday candles, complete with braces and a pimple, new emotions join the fray. Say hello to Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and the fabulously French Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos). (Might I introduce you to SAR-CHASM?) Anxiety quickly takes control, and the emotional console becomes way more complicated.
The sequel really is more strongly buoyed by the real life world this time around, which I enjoyed even more than the original. And we watch as Riley heads on a nerve-wracking adventure at a girls’ hockey camp. This is where Riley faces new friends, feelings, and choices, bringing her journey to life with humor and vivid animation. Mann, along with Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, weaves Riley’s internal emotional struggles with her real-world experiences seamlessly.
The movie is packed with hilarious moments. Riley’s puberty-induced mood swings and her mom’s emotions hilariously comment, “Well, that’s a preview of the next ten years,” had me guffawing liberally. The new emotions bring fresh comedic energy—Anxiety’s frantic antics, Envy’s green-eyed sulking, and Ennui’s wonderfully deadpan delivery are pure gold. (I mean, the French cool emotive title Ennui?? Does it get any better than that??)
One of the standout scenes involves Anxiety spinning into a mesmerizing orange whirlpool, capturing intense emotional turmoil in a visually stunning way. The animation is top-notch, as we’ve come to expect from Pixar, but it’s so seamlessly integrated that it’s easy to take for granted. The vivid colors, detailed character expressions, and imaginative settings bring Riley’s mind to life in a way that’s both familiar and new.
“Inside Out 2” manages to condense the complex journey of adolescence into one intense and hilarious weekend. Riley’s friendships are tested, and her awkward growing pains are on full display. The movie expertly showcases how emotions like Anxiety, Embarrassment, and Envy can drive our actions in the quest for self-preservation.
Inside Out 2 is a perfectly crafted film that balances humor and heart effortlessly. Pixar is at the peak of its storytelling and animation game here, and I was here for it. This sequel is not just for kids; it’s a delight for parents too. Do yourself a favor and catch this on the biggest screen you can find. I just can’t wait until Inside Out 28 is released and it finally describes what I am going through psychologically day in and day out!
Edited by: CY