Inside Out 2

An inevitable sequel after the tremendous success of the first film, Inside Out 2 sees a lot of changes from its predecessor, and not just in regards to the addition of new emotions. Kelsey Mann takes over from Pete Docter, making this his feature-length directorial debut. This change in direction is overwhelmingly present in this new instalment of Disney’s emotion series; while the initial ideas that Docter explored in the first movie are still very much present, the execution is quite different this time.

Inside Out 2 sets the scene one year after the events of its predecessor, following a now 13-year-old Riley as she readies herself for the daunting world of high school. At a hockey camp she attends with her best friends, puberty hits the core five of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear like a freight train, introducing five new emotions to the mix: Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, Ennui, and to a lesser extent, Nostalgia. As Riley contemplates the news of her two best friends attending a different high school, the old and new emotions battle for control over Riley’s course of action. Rather than its family-focused original, Inside Out 2 tests the bonds of friendship in this pivotal moment of a teenager’s life.

The picture does a brilliant job of creating parallels between Joy from the first feature and Anxiety’s role in this sequel. Both are desperate for control, overruling all other emotions with their need to decide for Riley. It’s this friction between the two, their opposing methods on how to help Riley, as well as their striving for some sort of perfection in their host, are the catalysts that lead to the series of events that follow. Just like the first film, the journey these emotions take leads to the same conclusion: they help Riley best when they’re working together rather than against each other. The additional lore of the “Belief” and “Sense of Self” adds more complex functions to the emotions, memories and the creation of Riley’s personality. While the effort to expand and build the world is certainly there, it feels a bit rushed and incomplete, especially when compared to how simple yet nuanced Docter’s work was on Inside Out when he built that initial foundation. Yet still, even with the lacking and complicated presentation of these new systems, the plot’s trajectory regarding them remains predictable.

Inside Out 2 is most enjoyable when showcasing the different relationships and dynamics between the emotions. In the initial movie, there was very little interaction between Joy and Sadness with the others. The focus was truly on the two of them working together. However, this time, all five of the original cast journey together, and it makes for some really fun moments and subtle interplay that highlight their friendship. More than that, the extra screen time allows the once neglected emotions a little bit of development into their character – from Disgust being in love, the softer side of Anger and Fear’s over-preparedness. On the flip side, the new emotions, save for Anxiety, are a bit lacklustre – their presence is almost unnecessary at times save for a few jokes and necessary plot conveniences. Speaking of which, the narrative is rife with unexplained conveniences to aid in moving the story forward. For example, they stumble on some walkie-talkies just before they all have to separate from Sadness. With how ambitious the piece is trying to be – with the extensive list of characters, the new systems added and the rush to get the plot going – there are corners cut and the storytelling suffers for it.

While Inside Out 2 does its best to carry the spirit of the original film, its execution is quite underwhelming in the grand scheme of things. It leads to the same conclusion as the first, the new systems added to help build the world are lacking, and while the new characters are colourful and fun, they don’t really add much substance to the overall product. While inescapable, this sequel to one of the most beloved animated films of the 2010s is fine but not necessary.

Mae Trumata

Inside Out 2 is released nationwide on 14^th June 2024.

Watch the trailer for Inside Out 2 here: