Set several years after the first film, Riley and her emotions face their biggest challenge yet: becoming a teenager and dealing with the new emotions that come with it. In this follow-up to one of Pixar’s most successful outings from the past decade, the studio makes a satisfying return to form as they return to the beloved franchise.
When Riley is about to enter high school and hits adolescence, Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger and Fear are reluctantly joined by the new arrivals in Riley’s mind: Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos).
At hockey camp, she has to decide whether to stick with her old friends or ditch them to make her way onto the school hockey team, which polarises the emotions and sets Riley’s original ones on a mission to save her core beliefs and values.
I am of the right age where seeing the return of this franchise causes a hint of nostalgia. I saw the first film in a cinema when I was a kid. I was around the same age as Riley in the first movie when it came out, and back then I could relate to her and her fears of change and growing up. I remember the film really touched me, leaving me with a tear in my eye as the credits rolled.
Unlike some of the newer releases in Disney’s ever-expanding catalogue, this film holds the charm and creativity that is the lifeforce of a Disney film, which in part is due to its talented returning and new voice cast who truly bring these characters to life.
The new emotions work seamlessly alongside the old, and I was impressed by the new world-building, character designs, and the continued attention to detail in the Pixar team’s prolific animation.
A continuation to this story coming out now when I have just become an adult seems poetic to me, in a way. The pressure Riley faces to change and the anxieties that come with that reminded me of my early teens and how I struggled to adapt to the changing world around me. I could relate to Riley and her struggle to fit in, though I could also relate to Joy and her determination to keep Riley’s old life together, as well as Anxiety, who wants to push Riley to success despite the suffering that may ensue.
By the end of the film, I found myself tearing up. The film’s message of embracing your true self, including your mistakes, is powerful to see presented in such a relatable and touching way. In the packed audience at the first Eden Court screening, I could see people of all ages who came to experience the escapism Disney crafts that has captivated audiences for over a century. It was encouraging to see so many kids back in the cinema, who I hope can take something away from this film - just like I did almost a decade ago.
I went into the theatre apprehensive, but it’s clear how much commitment went into this film’s creation, and I appreciate that - considering the laziness of so many modern big-budget films. Inside Out’s simple but relatable message of embracing the emotions that make you you is truly one that crosses all boundaries, and I am glad to see another generation accept it with open arms.
Inside Out 2 is screening at Eden Court Cinema until Sun 14 Jul.
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