Inside Out 2 review: Riley grows up in this sweet, suspenseful sequel

It’s natural to be cynical about Pixar sequels. Why we need more of them car or Toy Story Why would an animation studio that prides itself on unique storytelling make a movie (or a spinoff)? soul, Luke, get redand Elemental, Do we need to look back on 2015? Inside Out?

But in Pixar movies, Inside Out It invites the most natural sequel: A film that explores the emotional tangles inside our heads, it’s perfect for a sequel because, as humans, we’re always evolving and changing. And when is that change more dramatic than the beast that is adolescence?

Like in 2022 get redIt proved to be a groundbreaking expression of adolescence in itself. Inside Out 2 The film explores the complexities of this difficult stage of life, particularly when it comes to feelings like self-esteem and anxiety, resulting in a more mature and frank take on mental health than its predecessor, while still maintaining that necessary element of Pixar comfort and irreverence.

Inside Out 2 Address the emotional challenges of adolescence head on.

Credit: Pixar

Directed by Kelsey Mann Inside Out 2 We return to the screen as 13-year-old Riley (voiced by Kensington Tallman), still as obsessed with hockey as ever, with five emotions to help her navigate the world: Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith), Disgust (voiced by Liza Lapira), Fear (voiced by Tony Hale) and Anger (voiced by Lewis Black). Inside OutNow the group functions smoothly, with each helping Riley in their own way.

But wait, what’s that giant alarm blaring on the emotion control console? Why is a wrecking ball smashing HQ to shreds for sudden renovations? This chaos can only mean one thing: puberty has arrived, and with it new emotions.

Leading the way is Anxiety (voice actor: Stranger Things(Maya Hawke) is a toothy orange furball who tries to protect Riley from scary things she can’t “see,” which mostly means writing terrifying scenarios about anything she can’t see. did it Things go the wrong way for Riley, and Joy immediately resorts to tactics that are off-putting.

Credit: Pixar

Adding to the anxiety is jealousy (Voice actor: bearThere are three emotions: Ayo Edebiri from , Ennui (voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser). New, more exaggerated character designs differentiate this emotion group from the original characters. Jealousy is tiny, with big eyes that covet everything he sees. Ennui is the portrait of a disgruntled cool Frenchman, lounging like a limp noodle on his couch. Embarrassment is by far the biggest emotion, but prefers to hide deep inside his sweatshirt.

When Riley learns that her best friends, Bree (voice of Sumaiyah Nuridin Green) and Grace (voice of Grace Lu), have been assigned to a different high school, tensions grow between new and old feelings. A summer hockey skills camp for the two may be their last chance to play together on the same team, but it also gives Riley a chance to impress her new high school coach and the team’s powerful captain, Valentina (voice of Lilimar). Will Joy’s insistence that Riley stay with Bree and Grace be accepted, or will her insecurities destroy their longstanding friendship in order to ensure Riley’s “cool” future?

Inside Out 2 makes it seem like there are benefits to both. Of course, you want Riley to stay close to her friends and see her succeed doing the things she loves. Surely there must be a way to bring the two together. Instead, Anxiety puts the choice in a dichotomy and initiates a plan to purge old feelings from HQ and instill a new sense of self in Riley.

Inside Out 2 Take mental health seriously.

Credit: Pixar

When you see the plans of your fears being carried out, you yourself become anxious. Inside Out 2 This movie was one of the most stressful movie-going experiences I’ve ever had, but it’s also one of the most notable films for its portrayal of mental health.

Riley’s efforts to impress his high school team are foiled at every turn: a mistake about where he’s from grows into a nickname, he hides his true interests in order to fit in, and he pushes himself to the limits to prove he’s good at hockey. Every difficult social moment leaves you hunched in your seat — not just from Riley’s embarrassment, but from the realization that we’ve all been through similar awkward moments. get red Or in 2023 God, are you there? It’s me, Margaret., Inside Out 2 He knows that empathy is the secret weapon of any great coming-of-age movie, so even if you’ve never picked up a hockey stick, you’ll relate to friends Riley, Bree and Grace as they navigate difficult emotional situations.

Riley’s experiences play out like a realistic coming-of-age drama, providing a striking contrast to the fantasy adventure movie unfolding in her mind. Inside Out Having already explored the “core emotions need to return to headquarters” plot thread, the sequel mixes up the emotion groupings, separating Joy from Sadness for a change. Scenes where emotions are lamented for lost can sometimes feel too similar to the first film, so it’s a bit of a stretch to think that the sequel would be better suited to the characters who are trying to escape the core emotion. Inside Out 2 New intellectual obstacles are thrown in the way of emotion, like the “ironic chasm” and literal brainstorming. One particularly funny scene involves Riley discovering her secret. For example, she still Dora the Great AdventureWhether it’s Riley finding love with an anime-esque character named Bluffy (voiced by Ron Funches) or an overly dramatic video game dream boy named Lance Slashblade (voiced by Yong Yea), these deep dives into Riley’s inner world may appeal to younger audiences, but it’s how they impact Riley’s real-world story that resonates the most.

Inside Out 2 The film brings Riley’s troubles to a brutal climax, showing just how debilitating anxiety can be. But like the original, Inside OutThe film teaches valuable lessons about the importance of experiencing emotions rather than labelling them or bottled them up completely. (Tissues needed.) Even anxiety is portrayed not as an outright villain, but as someone who overthinks things to the point of crisis. Who among us hasn’t had that experience?

Joy and her friends’ adventures may seem long-winded at times, but Inside Out 2 It says something new and important. It’s one of those rare Pixar sequels that feels right, deepens the message of its predecessor, and makes you feel deeply, deeply, deeply It’s unsettling, but it’s also simply fun to watch.

Inside Out 2 It will be released in theaters on June 14th.