In 2015, “Inside Out” made my Top 10 list. My wife didn’t go with me to the press screening, so when it was released, I made her go with me to see it again. She liked it, but not nearly as much as I did. Perhaps it’s because it reminded me of a TV show in the early ‘90s called “Herman’s Head.” Herman was a young man in his 20s with various characters in his head that got him into many adventures. (Two of the cast members went on to bigger things with “The Simpson’s” – Yeardley Smith and Hank Azaria).
I was really looking forward to this second film, in which we see Riley (Kensington Tallman, replacing Kaitlyn Dias) become a teenager and experiencing a few new emotions (brought on by puberty). The film is rated PG, but they played it rather safe. It never goes dark, and she never crushes on any guy (but does seem infatuated with the older, gorgeous female star hockey player).
The problem was this movie wasn’t very funny, the tone was a bit off, and it didn’t have much emotional punch; although perhaps I’m grading it against the previous (but Pixar sure seems to have lost it lately).
With puberty, Riley starts stinking a bit after hockey practices, gets a pimple on her chin, and develops some anxiety issues. She is invited to a hockey camp with her two best friends. Doing well there can ensure a spot on the high school varsity squad. On the car ride to camp, her friends inform her they’ll be attending a different school. That leads to a cute bit where the girls analyze each other’s facial expressions).
Now Joy (Amy Poehler) is dealing with some new emotions that have changed how things are run in the brain. My favorite character Sadness (Phyllis Smith from “The Office”) is still fun. Anger (Lewis Black) is given a bit less to do. Disgust (Liza Lapira replacing Mindy Kaling) and Fear (Tony Hale) are still here (unfortunately, Richard Kind’s “Bing Bong” is not).
I felt Anxiety (nepo baby Maya Hawke) was a bit much, but she had her moments. There’s also Envy (“The Bear’s” Ayo Edebiri, who is great in everything I see her do), and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser, who barely has any lines, just sounds).
Joy doesn’t want to see any changes, but Anxiety smartly thinks of various scenarios that can help her win new, cooler friends; she’s quick to come up with every possible disastrous situation that can arise from saying the wrong thing, or liking the wrong band).
Director Kelsey Mann has disappointed me with Turning Red, Luca, and Elemental (I did kind of like Lightyear). About the only thing Mann got right were the visuals, which were gorgeous. It helps that we saw it in IMAX.
The idea for this story is solid. We get to see Riley’s behaviors change – social dynamics, peer pressure, and not always doing the right thing, if it means helping you climb the social ladder. Perhaps these messages will be lost on the younger ones, and won’t be all that interesting to the adults. Mann just didn’t properly capture the opportunities these scenarios could’ve had. Perhaps a bit more could’ve been shown through the eyes of her two friends that are being left behind for the new, older, cooler kids. I would’ve preferred a few more scenes showing the parents’ emotions in dealing with a rebellious teen, too.
There was a scene dealing with sarcasm that was funny, but the laughs were few and far between.
I liked hearing June Squibb as Nostalgia (a much more interesting character than Rhea Pearlman played in the Barbie film).
It was also a pleasant surprise to hear Ron Funches, who stole his scenes as Bloofy.
I feel like this was resting on its laurels. And I’ve come to expect more from Pixar (and where was the short that usually starts these movies?).
I brought two kids with me, a boy and a girl. I asked them what they’d rate it, and both said 3 stars out of 5.
My wife agreed with that rating. I’m a tougher critic I suppose.
2 stars out 5.