I recently caught an amazing movie that arrived at just the right moment to delve into emotions and navigating their complexities. Inside Out 2  follows Riley, a teenager stepping into puberty. Initially guided by the core emotions—Disgust, Joy, Sadness, Anger, and Fear—Riley’s journey evolves as new emotions like Anxiety, Boredom, Envy, and Embarrassment come into play. It might sound like a guidebook for parents on paper, but Pixar’s ability to tap into universal experiences—from the OG Toy Story to heart-wrenching UP and soulful CoCo—and a tight script ensures it resonates deeply with adults too. *Spoilers Ahead*

In this sequel to 2015’s original, Riley wrestles with these new emotions during her teenage years. Personally, I didn’t confront these emotions until my twenties, a testament perhaps to my knack for early emotional suppression—a trait of us overachievers. The film unfolds with Anxiety’s protective plans for Riley conflicting with Joy’s pursuit of her happiness. 

When Anxiety takes charge, evicting the original emotions in a frenzied comedy, they lament their “suppressed emotions” status. Joy resolves to restore Riley’s sense of self, rooted in positive beliefs, while Anxiety attempts to reconstruct her beliefs through anxious projections. It’s both heartwarming and cringeworthy, evoking memories of moments when emotions took control. I winced as Anxiety spun out every worst-case scenario from innocuous actions.

Ultimately, with support from the other emotions, Joy and the originals reclaim Riley’s sense of self in the control room, where Anxiety suffers a literal anxiety attack, losing control. As Riley’s suppressed negative experiences unexpectedly resurface, Joy undergoes personal growth, acknowledging her role in shielding Riley from negativity and inadvertently shaping her beliefs. This realization leads Joy to advocate for a more nuanced belief system that goes beyond “good vs. bad,” enabling Riley to confront her anxieties with newfound ownership and resilience. The movie poignantly illustrates that Riley’s true identity emerges from embracing her full spectrum of experiences, encompassing both positive and negative aspects.

Before this movie, my friends had told me about the concept behind the original “Inside Out.” They reflected that every person has a specific emotion that leads—Joy being Riley’s main emotion in these movies. Having missed it, I found myself pondering the role of emotions, believing our actions define our confidence and identity. “Inside Out 2” beautifully portrays emotions as integral—each with its merits—shaping who we are, even when they challenge us.

I thoroughly enjoyed how emotions, messy like puberty, are cleverly depicted by construction workers abruptly making way for new emotions, leaving old and new emotions to navigate without a roadmap. Yet, their goal—to harmonize the human system—remains.

This sequel demystifies emotions remarkably. My friend and I even waited for the credits, honoring the therapists and scientists whose insights made the film authentic and profound. Thank god for therapists and scientists like neuroscientist Dr. Dacher Keltner, who returned to consult on this movie. While initially aimed at children, “Inside Out 2” offers adults a reflective roadmap for parenting through puberty.

The writing and pacing were flawless, leaving me hard-pressed to critique. Still, my cinephile musings linger. At a critical juncture, when Joy despairs, it’s Anger who reminds her that they’re united, following wherever Joy leads. This raises intriguing questions about why we follow joy. The exploration of confidence—an amalgamation of actions we’re proud of, integral to our self-assurance—also lingers. How does confidence interplay in this emotional landscape, perhaps possessing its own dualities?

Overall, “Inside Out 2” earns an A for its storytelling, direction, and nostalgic charm. Yes, I’m always a sucker for nostalgic feeling cameos. Just as I am that friend who incessantly shares flashback photos. This movie resonated deeply, not just for its emotional journey but for its poignant exploration of how our experiences shape us, making it a must-watch for anyone navigating the complexities of growing up.

Title: Inside Out 2
Studio: Pixar Animation Studios
Release Date: June 14, 2024
Director: Kelsey Mann
Writers: Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein

Main Cast:

• Amy Poehler as Joy
• Phyllis Smith as Sadness
• Tony Hale as Fear
• Lewis Black as Anger
• Liza Lapira as Disgust
• Kensington Tallman as Riley

New Cast:

• Maya Hawke as Anxiety
• Ayo Edebiri as Envy
• Paul Walter Hauser as Embarrassment

• Adèle Exarchopoulos as Ennui
• June Squibb as Nostalgia