By Luke Durling
Let me be perfectly clear from the beginning: There is nothing wrong with inside Out 2.
This glorious return to form for Pixar is perfect in almost every aspect. It might not even be a return to form. but the film simply thrives being back in theatrical limelight with subversive animation styles, gorgeous visuals, and a story as golden as Joy herself. With Riley’s mind expanding, so does the universe in wonderful and extraordinary ways. From a Belief System to a vault of secrets and a revamped imagination, this is a perfect encapsulation of the creative spirit Pixar is renowned for down to its core.
Puberty has arrived in Riley’s mind, and with it comes a whole new set of emotions eager to control Riley for the better. Anxiety and a faithful band of friends of Envy, Ennui(boredom), and Embarrassment take over Headquarters in a bid to get Riley on the hot new hockey team as her old friends announce their plans to move away soon.
What is intriguing is the dynamic between emotions that are either extremely similar, yet also very different. For example, Fear takes an immediate interest in Anxiety, but Anxiety sees Fear as old news due to a lack of intensity. Envy envies Disgust, who is naturally disgusted by the latter. Sadness and Embarrassment protect each other like coy siblings. In fact and perhaps fittingly, the only detached character is detachment, Ennui, itself, and he has his own fun.
However, much like the first edition, a surprise connection between the original crew is focused on along the way. Joy is still the leader of the crew of our repressed heroes, but when daunting frustration becomes too much to bear, a fiery friend shows her what resilience really is and vice versa.
This is simply something that needs to be experienced to be able to understand just how fun, clever, and powerful this masterpiece is. You will laugh at the cringiest of teenage awkwardness and cry over the most profound moments in a young child’s life. The embracing of Anxiety as human and natural makes it even more compelling. It doesn’t vilify Anxiety, but shows how it can destroy us with the best intentions. Depending on your personal experience with the emotion, you may feel differently. As someone who has dealt with what feels like moderate anxiety at the very least, I found this embracing of character extremely well done- and I do mean embrace. It felt oddly good to see a thing I had wanted to eliminate as being a part of myself, and a part I can control. We might not seem like we can at times, but we are much more complicated than any one emotion, or even nine of them, could ever possibly convey.
Pixar understands the mind, it proved that with the initial entry. The studio created something so unique that no one would have thought or imagined a sequel could be better. I had my doubts. When I was told by friends it was, I thought it was an exaggeration.
It is not. It truly and genuinely is superior to any and all expectations. Despite all the challenges and obstacles in the way, Pixar managed to put all of its own anxieties to rest in one of the best movies it has ever made and one of the best sequels of all time.
In my humble opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong about Inside Out 2.
It might be imperfect, but the beautifully imperfect is precisely the point.
You may have reason to be anxious about it, but take a breath and let it go, Your Joy will thank you immensely.
That’s incredible in this weary world.
See it however you can.
FINAL GRADE: A+
Calm and Cultured 