Movie Review: Laughs and lessons abound in Pixar’s Inside Out 2

There is a good chance that Pixar Inside Out 2 it will be the funniest psychology lesson and therapy session you’ve ever been a part of. It’s the hottest movie of the summer and will put you in a great mood.

Packed with groundbreaking animation, a dedicated voice cast, and an intelligent and heartfelt script, Inside Out 2Its success is truly surprising, considering that more than half of the original creative team is different from the first film.

Finding brand consistency and a natural character arc is a difficult thing to do, especially when you have new leads and some new cast members. Fortunately, returning screenwriter Meg LeFauve (an Oscar nominee for writing the first film) is the anchor that helps bring vision and creativity to the world of Riley’s mind.

The first Inside out was a huge hit in 2015, following the key emotions in the mind of a 10-year-old girl named Riley, led by Joy (Amy Poehler), as she tries to wrangle her other emotions and help them work together.

That film, still beloved for its humor and relatable depth for all ages, grossed $850 million and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. So where do you go from there? According to new director Kelsey Mann, that means Riley gets new emotions as she becomes—get ready—a teenager.

Unlike the original, Inside Out 2 unfolds in a more intimate three-day episode with Riley, now 13: She’s getting ready to go to high school and has been invited to a weekend girls’ hockey training camp with her friends.

But, of course, this happens on the same day that new emotions appear headquarters (get it?), and soon Joy is battling Anxiety (a scene-stealing Maya Hawke) for control of Riley, her beliefs, and her sense of self.

Kids, adults, seniors and everyone will really find great entertainment value in the adventure story of Riley’s emotions traveling through Riley’s head to save her from spiraling out of control. Watching the connections between the world of the mind and the awkward antics of teenagers in the real world are both smart and hilarious, with a healthy dose of second-hand embarrassment.

Inside Out 2The element of LeFauve’s genius is LeFauve’s story (conceived with new director Mann) is a rich plot that also finds an artistic way to explain the connections and purpose of a person’s complex emotions.

Well-intentioned anxiety, for example, explains that it helps Riley prepare for the future. Her reasoning rings true, until Riley’s concern goes from wise to unhealthy. This kind of balance makes Anxiety a great antagonist without having to be a villain; all of Riley’s emotions really want to help – they just can’t agree on how.

What keeps the audience emotionally invested is that Riley’s real-world stakes keep getting bigger and more meaningful. Will she make the team? Will he lose his old friends at the cost of new ones? Can she stick to her code of ethics?

These are not just turning points in mental health and personal growth for teenagers. Finding ways to strengthen conflict is the hallmark of all great stories, and that’s why both Inside out movies are so compelling.

If there’s one slight disappointment, it’s that it still lacks the joy of discovering how Riley’s mind works and can change. The whole premise was groundbreaking in the first movie, and this episode feels a little more comfortable because there’s a strong, lingering hope that Joy will pull through and save the day.

Don’t worry though, this could be compared monster University or The Incredibles 2 or Cars 2 as a notable step down—Pixar found a great second story for Joy and Riley that absolutely justifies its existence. This is equal to Toy Story sequels in craftsmanship and pleasure.

One final note: because the entire story is centered around a high school hockey camp, Pixar accidentally made a great sports movie as well. Several fast-paced game and practice scenes qualify this as, no kidding, one of the best hockey movies ever made. It’s especially great to see the diversity of girls connecting and bonding over hockey, which is progressive in itself.

Inside Out 2 it’s not just the best family movie of the year, it’s one of the best movies of the year and the can’t miss e-motion movie of the summer.

Inside Out 2

9 out of 10

Rated G, 1 hour 36 minutes. Animated family comedy adventure.

Directed by Kelsey Mann.

Starring: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Ayo Edebri and Kensington Tallman.