Nine years ago, there was a charming, animated story of a young girl moving to San Francisco with her parents. Riley’s difficult transition to her new home and school showcased a relatable story told with humor and heart. “Inside Out” (Pete Docter, 2015) was a hit for Pixar Animation Studios. With some fun animated characters as the embodiment of Riley’s emotions: Joy, Fear, Disgust, Sadness, and Anger, the story was both clever and unique. With a specificity to the Bay Area (a joke about ruining pizza by adding vegetables) and a sweet story centered around caring parents and an adorable girl.
This weekend, movie fans flocked to theaters to watch 13-year-old Riley begin navigating puberty in “Inside Out 2”. The animated film was directed by Kelsey Mann (his first feature) and unlike “Turning Red” and “Luca”, the film plays exclusively in movie theaters. It’s remarkable that fans wanted to continue this journey with Riley’s family. It seems that children who liked the first film are now old enough to appreciate the story as teens. And there’s the nostalgia factor…even with a few less than stellar films, Pixar Animation Studios has a reputation for quality entertainment.
“Inside Out 2” has become the biggest box office weekend film of the year. I hope it continues to bring in the crowds. Even though the story is very similar to the first one, the characters are wonderfully animated and colorful. After a spring release calendar packed with action films appealing primarily to young men, now there’s one for the whole family. Even though it’s a sequel, it also has the specificity and relatability that make it a winner.
Young Riley is going to a hockey training camp and there are hockey references (skating the lines) to make it realistic. She’s just learned that her best friends are going to another high school, so she’s experiencing relatable sadness and disappointment. She’s also hoping to make an impression. She wants to make the high school hockey team. She also needs to make new friends so she won’t feel so alone at her new school.
With all of this angst in her young teen life, Riley is also experiencing physical and emotional changes. Puberty brings pimples, growth spurts, body sweat and smell–plus mood swings. The first film focused on Riley’s emotional characters of Joy and Sadness. Now the sequel brings in new emotions: Anxiety is accompanied by Ennui, Embarrassment, and Envy. Joy, again voiced by Amy Poehler, is the central emotion trying to keep all the characters working in harmony.
The animation team has done a stellar job of matching voices and personalities to the characters. Anxiety is a frenetic confusing/confounding character voiced by Maya Hawke (daughter of Ethan Hawke & Kyra Sedgewick). When she gets worked up, it’s a swirling maelstrom of emotional turmoil that matches how an anxiety attack feels in your body and brain. Ennui is voiced by the French actress, Adèle Exarchopoulos, with a hilariously drawn slouchy body as if her spine just can’t be bothered.
Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser) is a huge round boy hiding in his hoody. He’s pink with embarrassment. And the hilarious Ayo Edebiri, is the saucer-eyed green gremlin of Envy. These new characters interact with Joy, Fear, Anger, and Sadness as they learn to navigate the new normal of Riley’s puberty. It’s a touching story with some moral boundaries crossed in a film that’s not afraid to show that Riley can make poor decisions.
Joy must learn that she can’t hide away all of Riley’s bad experiences and Riley must learn to be a whole person by accepting all aspects of her personality; the good and the bad. A simple message perhaps but it’s great to see a mainstream movie take on teen angst and anxiety. It’s wonderful to have a film that teens, families and lovers of animation can all enjoy. Sadly, it does mean that Disney Studios will have Pixar move up the next sequel over what was to be the next original film. “Elio” was supposed to premiere in Spring 2024.
Grab a teen or anyone who remembers those regrettable snappy comebacks and fraught interactions with friends and family from when they were a teen—and go enjoy “Inside Out 2”. You’ll find relatable moments and enjoy a few good laughs.
Drinks with Films rating: 3 Red Bulls purloined from a high school girl, sipped recklessly before strapping on your hockey skates (out of 5)
Drinks with films 