Director: Kelsey Mann
Starring: Amy Poehler, Lewis Black and Maya Hawke
‘Spectacular Sequel’
When it comes to animated films that deserve to be talked about, it’s worth discussing “Inside Out”. Released in 2015, it captured teenage girls whose emotions are inside out. It painted a portrait of emotions leading lives of wallflower teens to deteriorate. An uplifting achievement, it captured the impact of emotions on teenage girls growing up. On a personal level, I find the film’s portrayal of emotions relatable. In eleventh grade, anxiety caused dreams of passing math classes to fade. During a dark day, my teachers found me facing panic attacks in the school hallway. An anxious panic attack, it was caused by failing math tests I considered precious. I became worried I wouldn’t pass a class for which I studied. I felt humiliated in front of teachers I respected. Following the harrowing incident, I felt embarrassment. Feeling remorse, I had no options but to drop the course. As my mental health began to deteriorate, I questioned whether I would graduate. A blow to self-esteem, anxiety threatened to destroy my graduation dream. Like emotions affecting Riley, anxiety impacted life drastically. To battle anxiety, I turned towards therapy. Just when I lost all hope, a therapist gave me strength to cope. At a time when anxiety weighed on my mind, he gave me joy to find. A kind soul, he taught me how to keep emotions under control. Therapy became a tool that allowed me to graduate from school. In reflection, I appreciate animation about emotion. Years later, I treasure animation changing my life forever.
Now, Kelsey Mann commemorates animated classics demonstrating emotions impacting my worldview in “Inside Out 2”. Intimate, heartbreaking and sweeping, it demonstrates animation is a commemorated medium teaching children about emotion. Kelsey Mann creates an extraordinary sequel demonstrating emotions adolescents experience proving painful. Boasting breathtaking animation, captivating storytelling and strong performances, it’s a spectacular sequel. Although “Inside Out 2” is extraordinary, it’s not flawless. It suffers from uneven pacing. Nevertheless, it provides enjoyable entertainment pleasing fans of animation.
“Inside Out 2” follows an adolescent girl experiencing emotions impacting her worldview. Amy Poehler personifies Joy, the joyful emotion commanding Riley’s mind. Alongside Anger, Disgust, Fear and Sadness, Joy endeavors commemorating Riley’s happiness. However, Joy is left behind following arrival of emotions including anxiety (Maya Hawke) controlling Riley’s mind. Experiencing doubt, Joy questions whether she belongs in minds of adolescents turned inside out.
Kelsey Mann is a newcomer to animation. It’s the filmmaker’s attempt creating animated sequels, but he succeeds. Evoking “Inside Out”, Mann uses storyboards visualizing emotions inside Riley’s mind. For instance, embarrassment is depicted through storyboards. With pink complexion, hidden face and silent demeanor, the character captures how embarrassment feels. Storyboarding is evident in scenes where Riley faces embarrassment caught fooling around before a hockey tournament. It rekindled memories of my embarrassment having panic attacks seen by teachers I regarded highly. Storyboards are tricky. Brad Bird’s “The Incredibles” suggested storyboards elevate superhero movies. As Andrew Stanton’s “Finding Nemo” demonstrated, storyboards enhance animated fish films. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Alongside cinematographer Adam Habib, Mann visualizes anxiety. Mann captures teenagers’ emotions, manufacturing theatrical viewing.
If teenagers facing doubt don’t attract you to theaters, however, there’s reasons to see “Inside Out”. From a technical perspective, it’s arguably the greatest film Pixar has produced. Alongside production-designer Jack Deamer, Mann uses the color orange to capture teenagers’ panic attacks. For instance, the color orange signifies anxiety during the breakdown scene. During this memorable scene, Riley experiences nerve-wracking panic attacks in hockey games proving painful. One admires orange colors capturing panic attacks recalling Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”. Like Charlie’s breakdown bidding friends’ goodbyes, Riley endures breakdowns bringing tears to eyes. It reminded me of my nervous breakdowns in school which left me emotionally affected. Furthermore, music is magnificent. Commemorating Pete Docter’s “Soul”, it demonstrates soul. Through awe-inspiring production, Mann encapsulates emotions.
Another extraordinary component of “Inside Out 2” is storytelling. Meg LeFauve’s screenwriting strength is capturing impact of emotions on teenagers through symbolism. Pixar’s animated movies rarely address stress leaving teenage girls affected. As a case in point: Mark Andrews’ “Brave” demonstrated an adolescent girl growing to become a brave warrior without experiencing consequences which were grave. Fortunately, however, “Inside Out 2” avoids pitfalls. Evoking Pete Docter’s “Up”, Le Fauve uses symbolism showcasing emotions impacting teenagers growing up. Like floating houses representing Carl’s bond with Elie, joy becomes positive symbols of Riley’s identity. Throughout the movie, Joy becomes a symbol of hope shaping Riley’s personality. It reminded me of my relationship with psychologists motivating me to overcome emotions which were conflicted. Symbolism is complicated. John Lasseter’s “Toy Story” demonstrated symbolism elevates blockbusters about toys. As Brad Bird’s “Ratatouille” suggested, symbolism elevates culinary movies. Nevertheless, it succeeds. Through a sensational screenplay, Mann demonstrates emotions impacting teens today.
One admires phenomenal vocal performances.
Amy Poehler delivers a career-defining performance as Joy. Poehler achieved appreciations portraying the emotion Joy in the first “Inside Out”. With “Inside Out 2”, she once again personifies emotions through her joyous voice. It’s challenging embodying an emotion through voice only, but Poehler succeeds. Celebrating Scarlett Johansson in Spike Jonze’s “Her”, Poehler embodies an inspirational emotion yearning finding joy in human interaction. Through her larger-than-life voice, Poehler captures enthusiasm, passion and optimism of emotion inside Riley’s mind. It’s a phenomenal performance.
The supporting cast is sensational, building powerful bonds. Maya Hawke is marvelous, bringing tense acknowledgements to the emotion of anxiety enacting an evil plan to take control over the mind of Riley. Phyllis Smith is phenomenal, demonstrating the downcast personality of Riley’s sadness. Lastly, Lewis Black deserves acknowledgements. As anger, he’s hilarious.
Finally, “Inside Out 2” earns everyone’s appreciation capturing hardships teenagers in eighth grade go through. Commemorating Bo Burnham’s “Eighth Grade”, it captures adolescents in eighth grade. It discusses encompassing themes including adolescence, identity and mental health. Audiences aren’t required to be animation fans to appreciate it. Like Pixar’s greatest movies, it appeals to both children and adults alike. Consequently, everyone relates to “Inside Out 2”.
Despite heartwarming messages, however, “Inside Out 2” can’t capture hardships adolescent girls go through. One department where the movie falls short of predecessors is pacing. Mann’s decisions integrating subplots about Riley’s toys is commendable but hinders pacing. Therefore, scenes capturing Riley’s favorite cartoon characters aren’t as engaging as emotional journeys. Whereas this toy subplot enhanced the Toy Story franchise, it clashes with this movie. Toy subplots are diversions in a film about emotion. Subplots about toys feel out of place in animation capturing turmoil adolescents face. Consequently, “Inside Out 2” can’t accomplish the highest bar of greatest movies manufactured by Pixar.
Nevertheless, fans of the animated classic will appreciate “Inside Out 2” and so will movie-goers giving acknowledgments to emotions. A soulful sequel, it proves animation is a powerful medium that can teach children about emotion. An insightful glimpse at extraordinary emotion inside troubled minds of teenage girls seeking acknowledgements turned inside out, it could stir children experiencing doubt to discuss mental health institutionalizations rarely talked about.
An incredible tribute to an animated movie capturing minds of adolescents that are painful, it’s an inspiring reminder of an animated film teaching children how to handle complicated feelings which aren’t always joyful.
Like the crucial role emotions play in lives of jazz musicians with a goal, it’s a soul-stirring reminder of an animated movie that achieved appreciation teaching kids smart ways to keep painful emotions under control.
If animation is an uplifting art-form guiding children how to handle emotion growing up, hopefully it incites kids to discuss mental health issues with aging seniors in houses up in the air that are floating.
As strong as emotions inside Riley’s mind, it has inspired me to overcome sadness years after my mental health declined in panic attacks celebrating a one-of-a-kind animated film teaching me joy in anxiety-inducing scenarios is possible to find.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 