Inside Out 2 (2024)

Pixar’s much-anticipated follow-up to the mind-bending original, Inside Out 2, dives back into the chaotic headquarters of Riley’s emotions, this time as she tackles the turbulent terrain of adolescence.

The film tackles a relevant and relatable theme—the pressure to be perfect that plagues many teens. We see Anxiety slowly hijacking Riley’s console, her need for control turning into a relentless pursuit of good grades, social status, and the approval of her impossibly cool classmate, Val. While the exploration of teenage anxiety is commendable, the plot itself feels a bit predictable. We’ve seen the “overachieving teen” trope before, and the resolution, while heartwarming, feels a touch formulaic. 

Where Inside Out 2 shines is in its visual storytelling. The animation is, as expected from Pixar, stunning. The introduction of new “emotion landscapes,” like the Sar-Chasm that fuels Riley’s contemptuous side, and the jungle that represents her unconscious, are imaginative and visually dazzling. The use of colour is particularly effective, with Anxiety’s world rendered in a sterile, monochromatic palette that beautifully reflects her controlling nature. The voice acting remains strong, with Poehler and Black perfectly capturing Joy and Anger’s signature traits. Hawke, as the newcomer Anxiety, delivers a high-strung performance that’s both comical and relatable. 

However, some of the new characters, like Ennui, feel a bit underdeveloped. Their personalities aren’t fleshed out as fully as the originals, leaving them as one-note additions to the emotional spectrum. The film’s pacing also falters at times, particularly in the second act, where the focus on Riley’s anxieties starts to feel repetitive. 

Inside Out 2 is a film with good intentions. It tackles a complex issue with a fair amount of humour and heart. But it doesn’t quite recapture the magic of the original. The predictable plot and underdeveloped new characters hold it back from greatness. Still, the beautiful animation, strong voice acting, and relatable themes make it a worthwhile watch, particularly for parents with teenagers navigating the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence.

So, is it a must-see? Not necessarily. But it’s a decent popcorn flick with a message about the importance of embracing all of our emotions, even the messy ones. And hey, that’s something we can all agree on, right?