When the original Inside Out hit cinemas in 2015, Pixar Animation Studios’ penchant for infusing top-tier family films with emotional insights was already well-established. From the existential angst of potential obsolescence (Toy Story and Toy Story 2), or parents coming to terms with changing family dynamics (Finding Nemo, The Incredibles), to the ramifications of mortality itself (Up, Toy Story 3), Pixar’s track record at exploring the human condition through populist entertainment was beyond reproach.

Following the mixed receptions of Brave (2012) and Monsters University (2013), to say nothing of the critical mauling of Cars 2 (2011), expectations were high for Inside Out. Under the direction of Pete Docter (Up, Soul), Inside Out took the lessons Pixar had learned from their previous endeavors and cranked the creativity dial up to eleven, resulting in a brilliantly realized examination of, well, growing up. Hilarious and sincere as it was tearjerking, Inside Out would go on to become an award-winning hit, and an instant classic.

Now, nearly a decade on, Pixar gives us Inside Out 2. How does it compare?

The story

It’s the summer before high school, and the now-13-year-old Riley (Kensington Tallman, of Nickelodeon’s That Girl Lay Lay) is preparing to attend an exclusive hockey camp with her two best friends. Riley’s desire to join the varsity team is turned upside down when she learns her friends have been assigned to a different high school. As her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation; Anger (standup comedian Lewis Black), Fear (Arrested Development’s Tony Hale replacing Bill Hader), Disgust (Liza Lapira, TV’s The Equalizer), and Sadness (Phyllis Smith, The Office) – scramble to deal with the situation, a new batch of feelings come onto the scene.

Will Riley’s original emotions triumph over the machinations of Anxiety (Maya Hawke, Stranger Things), Envy (Ayo Edebiri, The Bear, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos, Blue is the Warmest Colour), and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser, Blackkklansman), or will they be condemned to being bottled up forever?

Nobody ever said growing up was easy.

The perils of puberty

In addition to the pending separation from her BFF’s, Riley is faced with the opportunity to play hockey alongside her varsity idol Val (Lilimar, of Nickelodeon’s Knight Squad), which forces her to reevaluate her priorities. As the new, Anxiety-led feelings seize control of Riley’s actions, Joy and the other discarded emotions journey to restore the teen’s sense of self before it’s lost forever.

This is peak Pixar

Inside Out 2 is a triumph on every level. While this series isn’t the first to anthropomorphize the internal workings of a character’s mental/emotional state, few  is, by far, one of the few that doesn’t dumb down or streamline its concept for the sake of an easy punchline. The decisions that Riley encounters in her desire to be accepted by her new (potential) teammates and her willingness to change her entire personality to achieve that goal are instantly relatable.

Humor all around

Inside Out may be the most on-the-nose of Pixar’s established franchises by design, but the sheer narrative skill with which the material is handled is what makes it brilliant. As audiences have come to expect, visual and verbal gags abound in this sequel, which will have kids and adults amused on entirely different levels, without sacrificing the plot. Indeed, as the classic emotions make their way back from being  bottled up to navigating a literal stream of thought and crossing a chasm of snark (think about it), the wit and craftsmanship serve the story at every step, without talking down to the audience.

The turmoil of Joy

As the returning Joy, Poehler is well and truly in her element, her trademark enthusiasm resounding with every line reading. As the de facto leader of Riley’s emotions, she’s hit the hardest by Riley’s shift in character, which serves to strengthen her resolve to rectify the situation. Indeed, Joy’s growing desperation to hold on to the child Riley was brings her perilously close to where Bing-Bong was in the first film, and when she hits her own personal wall, it’s heartbreaking.

The black hole of Anxiety

Maya Hawke brings an off-kilter energy to the part of Anxiety, spouting her lines with a neurotic, rapid-fire cadence that stands in direct contrast to Joy’s ever-present confidence. Egged on from the sidelines by Envy and Embarrassment, Anxiety’s overwhelming desire to please at any cost takes Riley to extremes the classic emotions are appropriately horrified by.

New feelings

Refreshingly, the new emotions fulfill the roles of antagonists, but they are never presented as out-and-out villains. Much like Joy and friends, Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment are just trying to fulfill their designated functions at this new stage of Riley’s life – they all want what’s best for the girl. At the same time, the teen’s attempts to define herself amidst the life she’s leaving behind and the one she desires -while not necessarily relatable in the details (ice hockey, anyone?)- are immediately recognizable to anyone who ever grappled with adolescence.

The bottom line

With the return of familiar characters, an instantly-relatable plot, and no shortage of creative flair, Inside Out 2 shouldn’t take as long as the equally-enjoyable Elemental did to find its audience. From the opening frames to the end credits, Inside Out 2 is peak Pixar, and a film every family should catch on the big screen.

Your inner child will thank you.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube for the l8est entertaining, useful, and informative lists!