“Inside Out 2” (2024)

Inside Out 2

Grade: C

So it’s come to this: an unimaginative and unfortunate cash-grab sequel for one of the most imaginative Disney Pixar films ever made. Inside Out 2 was never going to live up to the original, especially without director Pete Docter at the helm, but I still expected better with such an innovative concept already baked-in. A few more notes on Inside Out 2:

Directing:

There’s no doubt that Inside Out 2 boasts dazzling visuals, including some of the most realistic hockey scenes in animation history. But the expensive animation is the trade-off for thoughtful drama: the sequel is driven by action as opposed to affection, with new settings and characters that are completely off-the-wall and zany in all the wrong ways. Kelsey Mann, in his directorial debut, opts for distraction rather than depth — the original Inside Out is one of the most mature animated films ever made; Inside Out 2 is quite juvenile by comparison, even if it depicts a credible portrayal of teenage angst and depression.

Acting:

Perhaps it’s the fact that this time around the writing is paper-thin, but I couldn’t help but feel that the voice cast isn’t giving it their all either. Is Amy Poehler going through the motions, or is it just the unfunny, exposition-heavy dialogue she’s been given? Are Liza Lapira and Tony Hale bad comedians, or do they just pale in comparison to Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader? Is Maya Hawke super annoying, or is that just the way her character was intentionally written? Inside Out 2 is much more cartoony than its predecessor, which means much of the voice cast’s emotional authenticity from the first film is hampered by circumstances beyond their control.

Writing:

Inside Out 2 gets one thing right: as you get older, your brains turn to mush. That’s the case for 13-year-old Riley, who has lost her sense of self and is taken over by Anxiety. That’s also the case for the screenwriting staff of Kelsey Mann, Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, who add new characters to cover for the fact that they’re out of ideas despite having nine years to come up with something.

What should be a relatable story about the dangers of depression is rendered moot because of how annoying Anxiety and the rest of the newcomers are. Further negating the impact is the fact that Inside Out 2 recycles storylines from the original movie: Joy and Sadness must once again get back to headquarters before Riley ruins her life. And don’t even get me started on the joke-to-laugh ratio — I only chuckled twice during the entire film. And, yes, I was counting.

Music:

To adjust for Riley’s pubescent teenage rebel years, Andrea Datzman’s score features electric guitars. That’s about the most notable thing when it comes to the music. It’s hard to believe that the soundtrack would also be as half-baked and uninspired as the storyline.

Ending (SPOILERS):

The ending somewhat redeems the film, with a thoughtful message about embracing all the identities that make you who you are. Unfortunately, the journey to get there feels contrived and hackneyed in retrospect, as if the filmmakers came up with the poignant ending first and then worked their way backward to arrive at their predetermined endpoint. The entire movie is essentially one long and frustrating chase scene that culminates in a dramatic epiphany that doesn’t feel tonally connected to what came before. Oh well — when Pixar is low on ideas in 2029, hopefully Inside Out 3 is a little better.

“This whole trip is just a series of deader and deader and deader ends!” – Fear

Why Inside Out 2 gets a C:

The animation is fantastic, but that’s about the only good thing when it comes to this lazy, insipid and uninspired sequel.

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