Pixar is well known for its emotional stories, from a father and son reuniting in Finding Nemo, to an old man unable to move on from his wife with Up and even a young boy growing up and learning he doesn’t need his toys anymore. Each film has a driving narrative that is influenced by emotions, and that became much more literal with their film Inside Out. Nearly a decade old now, Inside Out became one of Pixar’s best films yet as it balanced a fine line between complex concepts with a sense of entertainment and fun. Inside Out worked so well and even though a lot of time has passed it is no surprise that we eventually got a sequel, one that explores the same characters but now inside a teenage girl.
Riley is the central character yet again and she has recently turned 13 at the start of Inside Out 2. Sadness, Joy, Anger, Fear and Disgust are back again who are helping Riley navigate her life as a teenager, until one day puberty hits. New emotions soon join the returning ones with Ennui, Envy and Embarrassment all entering Riley’s mind. The newest and most important emotion that ends up steering Riley’s life is Anxiety. This is the main hook of the film. As Riley makes new friends and struggles to keep her old ones she begins to accept an uncertain future and Anxiety attempts to make it easy for Riley but fails.
Inside Out 2 explores a lot of new and returning concepts, from throwing old memories to the back of the mind, to creating memory roots which make a “Sense of Self” which basically acts as Riley’s core personality. There’s a lot going on with this sequel and it does a great job at introducing them but the complexity and enjoyment seem a little uneven this time. There is not enough time for the other new emotions to showcase their importance and some of the new humour feels a little forced - a bit like the sarcasm part of the film. This isn’t to say the film is bad, it just feels a little inferior when compared to the original.
Anxiety is such a multi-layered emotion to explore. The uncertainty that Riley experiences roots towards this new emotion and teenagers and adults alike will undoubtedly feel very similar to their own experiences growing up and going through puberty. For younger audiences however this will more than likely go over their heads. Instead of opening their minds it just shows how chaotic Anxiety can be. Maya Hawke voices her and she gives a lot of depth and personality to the emotion and it comes across as a very accurate manifestation of anxiety. The film does an excellent job of handling this new emotion and the journey that Anxiety goes on can be very therapeutic and self-reflective for a lot of people watching the film who are also going through a similar experience.
Inside Out 2 looks fantastic as expected from a Pixar film, and the ideas here are full of creativity with an abundance of entertainment thrown in too. Sadness and Joy are highlights again as the both of them have to go on their own personal journeys to learn how they can help with Riley’s newfound perspective on life. Just like reality, joy and sadness are just as important as every other emotion but every emotion has a role to play in creating who we are and that is the underlying message of the film. Yes, it feels like a heavy message to convey in a family friendly film but this is Pixar and this is what they do best.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Inside Out 2 is another fantastic addition to the pantheon of stories told under the Pixar banner. It doesn’t feel like a rushed sequel but instead a very intrinsic look at an important part of every persons life, puberty. Anxiety is the main focus but we also learn how envy, ennui and embarrassment play important parts of growing up too. Balancing emotions and bottling up emotions are just two of the many themes the sequel explores. Inside Out 2 is a great visual feast and a fun experience too. There is something for everyone with this sequel, even if the younger audiences do struggle to understand some of the core concepts.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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