‘Inside Out 2’ review: Pixar sequel is nice, but not as good as the original

Nine years ago, the movie “Inside Out” pulled Pixar out of a creative rut. The groundbreaking, Disney-owned animation studio was delivering dud after dud, such as “Cars 2,” “Brave” and “Monsters University.” Running time: 96 minutes.

Rated PG (some thematic elements). In theaters June 14 And then came “ Inside Out, ” with a voice cast led by Amy Poehler, which returned it to the inventive glory days of “Toy Story” and “Ratatouille.” Almost a decade later, Pixar’s crisis is now existential.

Its fortunes at the box office have plummeted, the movies often stink, it’s been forced to lay off staffers and is quickly losing its once-dictatorial grip on American childhoods. So, it’s praying the sequel “Inside Out 2” saves it yet again. How does the second flick match up to the original? Appropriate for a film about cute, talking emotions that live in our heads, my feelings are a little complicated.

Without a doubt, families could not do better than “Inside Out 2” at the movies right now. It’s whipsmart, funny and chockablock with predictably clever touches. The voice acting is top-notch.

But, well-made though the film undeniably is, there is nevertheless a missing magic that so often occurs when there’s a “2” in the title. A dejected Joy’s astute observation about young Riley also applies to most ongoing franchises: “Maybe this is what happens when you grow up — you feel less joy.” Joy (voiced by Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smi.