Inside Out 2 does what a good sequel should, take the story of the first to new places and not just rehash what we've seen before. In some ways this story is a no brainer as the flow from a child's emotions into a teen's emotions is the next logical step in the story. Riley's growth to incorporate more complex and difficult emotions is rich for opportunity and the Pixar folks have cast their magic again making a very satisfying continuation of one of their best films.
Riley is a great "every woman" character who is designed to be very relatable to almost any audience. In someways that makes her development border on cliche but the film manages to skirt this just enough to make it all feel honestly real. My main critique of the first film is that I am not sure all the metaphors truly work (personality islands always felt a little forced for example) but the film boldly swings and succeeds in being beautifully watchable both visually and narratively so I forgive it. 2 has some of the same issues but it's main new conceit, of memories forming identity, is a winner. Also any movie that make Ennui into a character gets a gold star in my book.
I'm not always a big fan of sequels, even to movies that I really love. But when it makes sense, when it truly continues the story and evolves into something new, a continuation can be great. In fact Inside Out 2 shows us that a trilogy might be warranted as there are still Riley's late teens to contend with. Maybe this isn't something Pixar would tackle but if they had the nerve to personify her sexual and romantic feelings as they develop, that could be an amazing movie if handled sensitively and honestly. Maybe that's not somewhere Disney wants to go.
Inside Out 2
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Paul Walter Hauser, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ron Funches, June Squibb, Yong Yea, James Austin Johnson, Paula Poundstone, Pete Doctor, John Ratzenberger, Flea, Frank Oz
Director: Kelsey Mann
Writers: Meg LeFauve, Dave Holstein
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