“Inside Out 2” is the sequel to the highly-acclaimed 2015 hit animated film “Inside Out.” Releasing nine years after the first film, director Kelsey Mann (taking the reins from Pete Docter and marking the filmmaker’s feature directorial debut) has crafted the ideal follow-up to one of Pixar’s best films and a compelling sequel in its own right.
Two years have passed since the events of the first film. Riley Andersen (voice of newcomer Kensington Tallman) is now thirteen years of age and navigating a whole new set of challenges. On top of the core team of emotions from the first consisting of Joy (voice of Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”), Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith, “The Office”), Anger (voice of Lewis Black); Disgust (voice of singer/actress Liza Lapira) and Fear (voice of Tony Hale, “Toy Story 4”), a quartet of new characters join Riley for a long weekend at hockey camp.
These new emotions consist of Anxiety (voice of Maya Hawke, daughter of character actor Ethan Hawke), Envy (voice of Ayo Edibiri, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”), Ennui (voice of Adele Exarchopolous) and Embarrassment (voice of Paul Walter Hauser). All of this makes for an excellent sequel to one of Pixar’s best films and a coming-of-age story that can stand at peer with the studio’s own “Turning Red” and the classic “Dazed and Confused.”
Over the course of 100 minutes, the film builds upon concepts introduced in the first film while also introducing many of its own. On a $200 million budget, the screen fills with visual creativity that is worthy of being seen in the biggest formats possible. The expansion of Riley’s inner consciousness is rife with new scenarios. Some of these are played for comedy, with a standout being video game avatar Lance Slashblade (voice of YouTube commentator Yong Yea). Others have much more dramatic weight, including a climactic scene in the hockey rink that shall not be spoiled here.
With the film already set to both match and beat the box office records set by its predecessor, “Inside Out 2” is highly-recommended as an all-around emotional masterclass of an animated film.
At a glance:
Starring the voices of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edibiri, Paul Walter Hauser, and Adele Exarchopolous with Diane Lane, Kyle McLachlan and introducing Kensington Tallman
Directed by Kelsey Mann (Based on characters created by Pete Docter)
Rating: PG
My Rating: *****/5