Inside Out 2: A Phenomenal Pixar Sequel (Review)
After a long wait, the sequel has finally arrived. Inside Out quickly became a beloved film among Pixar fans when it was first released in 2015, and now, nine years later, its follow-up is here, which some say surpasses the original. With an abundance of emotions, chaos, and an exciting adventure, let's explore what this new installment has to offer.
In Inside Out 2, we return to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone. She brings along Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui who all take over headquarters and suppress the main emotions. They then have to find a way to get back and save the day before Anxiety can cause permanent damage to Riley's mind.
Like many sequels, Inside Out 2 is much bigger than the first. Not only do we have the main five emotions we followed the first time around, but we are now introduced to four more who are a lot to handle, especially Anxiety. However, there is a lot this film does right that many sequels tend to miss when trying to make the story larger. This film contains great plot points that all hit when they need to. Our characters internally and externally still have flaws (some old, some new) and growth needs to continue; and the story does not overstay its welcome as it has a nice, tightly paced runtime. All things a worthy sequel should contain.
The voice work on display is mighty impressive, one of Pixar's major strong suits. The returning cast includes Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black, who are all wonderful, just as they were in the first film. Newcomers Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Paul Walter Hauser, and Adele Exarchopoulos all add to the electric lineup and give fantastic performances when these new emotions emerge. Along with those newcomers are Tony Hale as Fear and Liza Lapira as Disgust (in the previous film they were voiced by Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling). Each performer clearly grasps an understanding of what these emotions are, and they reflect that beautifully on screen. The animation on display is also picture-perfect. Not only does the voice talent bring out the characters, but the animators do as well. When you look at these emotions, you can easily say, "you know, this is exactly what they would look like."
The themes showcased are ones that both adults and kids alike will be able to relate to. However, I do feel the film is very mature, and adults will appreciate it more than the kids will; at least with the message. The film explores emotional maturity. The themes examined include how we might look at ourselves when we're faced with emotional challenges like feeling we aren't good enough for something or even how we see ourselves when we make a mistake. All of our emotions exist for a purpose. The film is there to highlight that you are capable of whatever you set your mind to. Mental toughness gives us courage, and that occurs when all of our emotions are in balance. Our emotions help us face challenges, overcome obstacles, and maintain a positive and resilient outlook in various aspects of life. The film beautifully showcases the importance of embracing all emotions, even out-of-touch ones like anxiety, to create emotional balance as they help define personality and guide us to who we want to become. Pixar continues to be absolutely brilliant with how they portray their messages to audiences.
Kelsey Mann directs the film, who is not new to Pixar. Her past work includes being in the animation department on Onward (2020) and she worked as an additional crew member on Lightyear (2022) and Elemental (2023). That said, this is the best Disney/Pixar film that she has been involved with. Not only involved with, but leading. Her direction is crisp and shots feel well thought out. While I really enjoy the films Pixar puts out, this one truly does stand out in their most recent line up of work as a home run and a lot of it has to do with the themes discussed above. Everything feels well structured from script to screen and I could not praise Mann's direction more. This is her fourth time directing anything but her first major feature and to knock it out of the park on the first try is nothing less of impressive. I am excited to see more work from her hopefully in the near future.
Ultimately, Inside Out 2 is outstanding. It's the first movie I've watched this year that I believe had no flaws whatsoever. The pacing, direction, and story are exceptional, marking a significant advancement for Disney. If they continue to progress from here, I foresee even greater success than in recent years. These are the narratives that audiences crave. Make sure to watch this one.
RATING: 5/5
