“Inside Out 2” proves to be a mixed bag, offering an ensemble that’s both expansive and entertaining, yet ultimately failing to reach the emotional depths and narrative heights of its predecessor. This is particularly noticeable when compared to Pixar’s “Turning Red,” which skillfully encapsulates the chaotic emotions of puberty and adolescent girlhood in a way “Inside Out 2” struggles to match. While director Kelsey Mann brings imaginative flair to the sequel, the film seems constrained by its own established logic and metaphorical framework, unable to achieve the breakthrough impact that Pete Docter’s original film managed so compellingly.
In “Inside Out 2,” Riley, now voiced by Kensington Tallman (taking over from Kaitlyn Dias), is a 13-year-old thriving in the Bay Area. With close friends Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green) and Grace (Grace Lu), a passion for ice hockey, and an overall cheerful outlook, Riley’s internal emotions continue to guide her through life’s challenges. These emotions—Joy (Amy Poehler), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale, replacing Bill Hader), Disgust (Liza Lapira, replacing Mindy Kaling), and Sadness (Phyllis Smith)—return with renewed vigor. Hale and Lapira successfully tap into the inherent fun of their roles, bringing more prominence and nuance to Fear and Disgust, which, along with Anger, play more significant roles in this sequel.
Despite these strengths, “Inside Out 2” struggles to break new ground, lacking the profound resonance and seamless metaphorical clarity that made the original film a standout. While Mann’s direction injects fresh ideas, the sequel remains somewhat confined by the logical and metaphorical boundaries established by its predecessor, preventing it from achieving the same level of emotional and narrative impact.
This passage reviews key plot elements and characters in “Inside Out 2,” highlighting how the screenplay, by Dave Holstein and Meg LeFauve, draws on the original film while introducing new elements. Here’s a breakdown of the main points:
- Nostalgic Elements and New Directions:
- The screenplay nods to the first film, evoking familiar themes without recycling specific plot details.
- Riley’s “core memories” are crucial yet assumed to be unchangeable and not explicitly addressed.
- Joy’s Role:
- Joy’s responsibility has shifted to safeguarding Riley’s “sense of self,” symbolized by a delicate, glowing flower-like structure.
- Joy’s tendency to discard negative memories foreshadows future conflicts.
- Puberty and Its Representation:
- Puberty is depicted through construction imagery in the emotions’ Headquarters, signaling change and upheaval.
- Despite the metaphorical setup, the film briefly touches on Riley’s new insecurities without fully exploring puberty’s complexity.
- New Emotions:
- The sequel introduces four new emotions:
- Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke): Nervous and energetic.
- Embarrassment (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser): Loud and prominent.
- Ennui (voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos): Calm and detached, emphasizing her French roots.
- Envy (voiced by Ayo Edebiri): Small and somewhat underdeveloped, primarily serving as Anxiety’s companion.
- The characterizations of Embarrassment and Ennui are minimal, leading to a lack of distinctiveness for Envy.
- The sequel introduces four new emotions:
This overview captures the film’s attempt to balance continuity with innovation, detailing the challenges and dynamics of Riley’s evolving emotional landscape.
The strength of “Inside Out 2” lies in its vivid portrayal of the tumultuous emotional changes characteristic of early adolescence. This is exemplified by the chaos of nine different characters attempting to manage a control panel originally designed for four. This chaotic dynamic is particularly poignant and personal, especially as Anxiety takes the lead, working relentlessly to anticipate every possible scenario, regardless of its likelihood. This shift in emotional governance causes Riley’s sense of self to evolve as she seeks to fit in with older peers, leading to a disconnect both with her friends and herself.
However, the film falters in its execution of this concept. Despite its occasional humor, the internal representation of these emotional battles lacks depth and engagement. The plot closely resembles the original “Inside Out,” with Joy and Sadness once again being ousted from Headquarters, this time alongside Fear, Anger, and Disgust. The primary divergence is the film’s failure to delve into the real-world and internal impacts of these new, unexpected emotions. The narrative glosses over how these feelings manifest and affect Riley’s external life and inner psyche, missing an opportunity to explore the complexity and significance of these changes.
“Inside Out 2” attempts to delve into the intricate realm of adolescence by introducing new emotions such as Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy. However, it struggles to reach the emotional depth and resonance of its predecessor. While the original film masterfully portrayed the end of childhood through the poignant farewell to an imaginary friend and the powerful reconciliation of Joy and Sadness, the sequel falls short of delivering a similarly impactful narrative.
The new emotions, although supposedly representing greater complexity, are portrayed in an oversimplified manner. This simplification hinders the storytelling, making it difficult to achieve the same level of emotional engagement. Anxiety, voiced by Hawke, stands out as a compelling addition with his nervous yet sympathetic demeanor, driven by a genuine concern for Riley. His character’s depth and internal conflict are highlights of the film.
The dynamic between Sadness and Embarrassment is another bright spot, capturing a sweet and relatable connection as they see reflections of themselves in each other. Yet, these moments of emotional insight are fleeting. The film’s structure, which separates the emotions and keeps those in actual conflict distanced, prevents the kind of meaningful confrontations and symbolic interactions that made the original film so compelling.
Ultimately, “Inside Out 2” touches on interesting themes but lacks the narrative cohesion and emotional weight that characterized its predecessor. By not fully exploring the complexities of the new emotions or allowing them to interact in more meaningful ways, the sequel misses the opportunity to achieve the profound storytelling that made “Inside Out” a beloved classic.
The review of “Inside Out 2” captures its strengths and weaknesses quite clearly. The film is noted for its clever ideas and amusing elements, such as the recurring gags related to early-2000s video games and Nickelodeon properties. However, it falls short in connecting Riley’s story with the internal experiences of her emotions—Joy, Anxiety, and others. The editing does not effectively convey the cause-and-effect relationship between Riley’s actions and the impulses behind them, resulting in a lack of emotional depth.
The primary critique is that “Inside Out 2” is intellectually engaging but fails to evoke strong emotions. While it explores the changes and challenges of adolescence, it doesn’t generate the same emotional response as the original film. The movie addresses the onset of puberty but does so superficially, avoiding the physical and emotional complexities of the experience. This results in a film that is more focused on explaining its metaphors than on allowing audiences to feel their impact. In contrast to films like “Turning Red,” which handle similar themes with more intimacy and visceral detail, “Inside Out 2” is seen as overly tidy in its depiction of adolescence and too preoccupied with intellectual explanations that might be lost on younger viewers.
It seems that the sequel, Inside Out 2, has not quite met the high expectations set by its predecessor or other Pixar films dealing with adolescence. While the film has a clear objective in exploring the chaotic emotions of puberty, and does so intelligently at times, it appears to lean heavily on metaphor rather than providing an emotional experience that resonates with the audience. Compared to other Pixar successes like Luca and Turning Red, Inside Out 2 feels like a less impactful entry, falling short in delivering the deeply emotional and relatable stories that have defined the studio’s reputation.