Inside Out 2 is a movie at conflict with itself, both literally and figuratively. The plot of the film features emotions battling for control of Riley, in a story full of beautiful ideas about what it means to grow up and establish our own identities. It’s a coming-of-age tale about the struggles we face building the personal belief system that will both guide and define us.
It also has some genuinely funny scenes and characters. That provides the balance of heart and comedy you expect from a Pixar movie. But Inside Out 2 has too many ideas without the time or space to explore most with enough depth.
It’s also so desperate to be clever it’s often groan-inducing. But what really holds it back are its new emotions. The film introduces feelings that say they’re complex, but are really (at best) derivative, or (much worse) downright confusing.
That includes the film’s villain , Anxiety (Maya Hawke), a character that makes Inside Out 2 downright terrifying for kids. With both so much going for it and so many fundamental issues, it definitely evokes one strong emotion: “meh.” Inside Out 2 reunites us with its young star who recently turned 13.
Riley is an almost perfect child to an annoying degree. That’s intentional and has a meaningful payoff by the end of the film. But it’s still less interesting than if she were obviously flawed to start.
How perfect is she? Riley is a better hockey player than Wayne Gretzky. That sounds like hyperbole but is laughably not. Ri.
