Inside Out 2 movie review

MOVIE TITLE:   Inside Out 2

This adorable and insightful sequel is now playing in theaters.

RATING:  PG

LENGTH:  1 hour 36 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE:  A

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IN A NUTSHELL:

This cute sequel to the enlightening Inside Out continues with Riley as she enters her confusing teenage years, encountering new and mixed emotions.

The film was directed by Kelsey Mann who also co-wrote it with Dave Holstein and Meg LeFauve.

There has been a lot of excitement swirling around the launch of this film.  Within 24 hours of the first trailer’s premiere, more than 157 million fans watched it, which is more than even Frozen 2 in 2019.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• This movie could actually be a tool for parents to help their pre-teens understand what’s coming and how to prepare emotionally for adolescence.
• Riley makes some bad decisions.
• No profanity!

THEMES:

• Sense of self
• Friendship
• Anxiety – This is such a HUGE topic right now with Millennials & GenZ who are struggling with this every day.  Don’t get me wrong: adults definitely have anxiety too, but hopefully, adults have learned better how to deal with that overwhelming emotion, and found tools and techniques that help.  I love that the movie illustrates the emotional characters that the parents have too.  Anxiety makes for a very good villain in this movie because it can be in real life.  By the way, I think the visual representation of the character is hilarious.
• Envy.  It was fascinating to see Envy and Anxiety work together to create a type of ambition.
• Beliefs
• Emotional intelligence
• Embarrassment
• Overthinking
• Peer pressure
• Focusing on the positive instead of the negative
• Focusing on what we CAN control, not what we can’t
• Accepting yourself with your flaws and strengths

THINGS I LIKED:

• It’s so clever to introduce new characters to expand this franchise.  The teenage years are so filled with every possible emotion.  As a new teenager, Riley experiences new feelings like anxiety, embarrassment, envy, and ennui (boredom). This franchise could easily go on for years as we watch Riley age and go through every phase of life and the new emotions that emerge.
• The voice talents are fantastic and include Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Phyllis Smith, Diane Lane, Paul Walter Hauser, Yvette Nicole Brown, and so many more.
• The entrance and quick departure of nostalgia was such a cute touch.
• It’s fun that they showed characters in different animation styles.
• Pay close attention to catch the many Easter eggs in the movie!
• There is soooo much visual and spoken humor.  Love that!  There is something to make all ages laugh.  The lines fly fast and furiously, so this is one of those movies that you’ll want to watch again just to catch everything that’s said.
• Braces.  Zits.  The new Riley is going through tricky puberty and the tumultuous teenage years.  
• Pixar is genius for knowing how to design detailed animation, create movies with heart, utilize music to pull at our emotions, and make both kids and adults feel seen.  Let this be a lesson to you, Disney: leave Pixar alone to do what they do best.
• I loved the message by Anxiety when she said, “We don’t get to choose who Riley is.”  Nowadays, everyone talks about their feelings as if they’re the most important thing.  Emotions are fickle and can’t always be trusted. Listening to your heart is important in life, but so is using your brain.
• The river of consciousness is such a great visual to illustrate that concept.
• Keep watching during the rolling credits for some more cute clips.  Then, at the very end, we see a short clip of Joy opening the vault to learn what Riley’s deep, dark secret is.
• You don’t have to watch the first Inside Out in order to appreciate or understand this sequel, but it does kind of help to know the backstory a bit.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• Like the first movie, it’s a bit depressing and heavy.
• With an ice hockey camp to keep her busy, Riley doesn’t have time to get bored, so we don’t get to see the new character Ennui do much.

FUNNY LINES:

• “That girl is a social Titanic.  We should not get on board.” –  
• “Well, that’s a preview for the next 10 years.” – Mom  (Diane Lane)
• “Aren’t those traitors dead to us?” – Anger  (Lewis Black)
• “I know you, Sadness.  You ARE strong.  I can’t give you specific examples right now, but you got this!” – Joy  (Amy Poehler)
• “I’m jealous of myself.” – Envy  (Ayo Edebiri)

INTERESTING LINES:

• “OK, Riley.  You’re in good hands.  Now, let’s change everything about you.” – Anxiety  (Maya Hawke)
• “It’s not about who Riley is.  It’s about who she needs to be.” – Anxiety  (Maya Hawke)
• “Maybe this is what happens when you grow up: you feel less joy.” – Joy  (Amy Poehler)
• “How do we keep bad memories from forming bad beliefs?” –  Disgust  (Liza Lapira)

MOVIES LIKE THIS That Feature Deep Emotions YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

• Inside Out:  https://moviereviewmom.com/inside-out-is-one-of-pixars-most-honest-and-deep-hits/
• Toy Story 4: https://moviereviewmom.com/toy-story-4-movie-review/
• Up:  https://amzn.to/3VM8fDa

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