Verdict: 4/5
A different kind of coming-of-age movie, ‘Inside Out 2’ might just be Disney and Pixar’s best sequel in years.
It’s no secret that sequels often struggle to live up to the original, especially movies for kids. They try to replicate the same feeling as the first, use gags that don’t land quite as well and introduce characters no one really cares about.
That’s not the case for ‘Inside Out 2’.
It stands on its own two feet as a film, delivering an emotional gut-punch that’s different – but not worse – than the first.
Returning to the mind of Riley, the film follows the 13-year-old as she enters a new phase of her life – becoming a teenager.
The new changes lead to the arrival of new emotions, including Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), Envy, Embarrassment and Ennuii.
It shakes up the successful operation that has been long run by the always-positive Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), alongside Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust.
Chaos, of course, ensues.
There’s plenty of laugh-out-loud moments for children, as well as a few tear-jerkers. At its core though is a powerful message about growing up and accepting the emotions that make up who we are – both the good and the bad.
For the adults, Riley’s puberty-related changes bring on a wave of nostalgia. Every adult will remember the anxiety that comes with trying to make new friends, transitioning into high school and the need to stand out – but not too much.
It truly is a movie for the whole family.
The new characters are a great addition to the cast, with Hawke a definite standout as the neurotic and controlling Anxiety.
Visually stunning, hilarious and heartfelt, ‘Inside Out 2’ tugs at the heartstrings of people of all ages.
See this movie at Hoyts Penrith.
Ellie Busby
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other projects.