Even so with a respectful box office run, Elemental struggled to endear critics. While audiences enjoyed the movie, Pixar has a reputation of quality that has been away lately. Furthermore, the release of 3 Pixar movies straight to Disney + didn't help matters either. All the above have created a downward perception of the brand. Inside Out (2015) is one of the best reviewed movies ever with an 98% on RT and 94 on Metacritic. The pressure for Inside Out 2 was therefore enormous.
Happy to report that Inside Out 2 does deliver. A movie that gives everything you expect from the Pixar brand. Great animation and storytelling of the highest level. Many have felt that recent releases have lacked this. Comparatively this movie at the time of this writing stands on a magnificent 92% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 98% verified audience score. People seem pleased with this sequel.
With new emotions like anxiety arriving to affect Riley, we see a sequel tackle the emotions that appears as you get older in life. The movie could have been a simple retread of the original but manages to carve an own path to stand out. Naturally there will be comparisons made to the original, but the movie manages to overcome that and write its own legacy.
What makes Inside Out 2 great:
The movie is filled with excellent writing that weaves in humor that packs a punch and seamlessly integrates the deeper themes. It manages to evoke emotions in a way that Pixar arguably hasn´t done since Coco. Riley´s journey into puberty is the core focus and as you expect in sequel things get bigger. More emotions but the movie manages to balance it well. There was a worry that the movie would simply be a money grab, but the director Kelsey Mann brings a great perspective to it.
Anxiety voiced by Maya Hawke does a splendid job and the voice acting is top notch across the board. The movie doesn´t shy away from the emotions and the journey that one goes on when becoming older. Joy being center and forward playing opposite of Anxiety. Embarrassment is the MVP of humor and had the whole theater laughing throughout.
The Bad:
The movie isn´t flawed in any strong way but it does have some issues that drags down from top tier Pixar. The second act of the movie juggles a lot of characters and events. At times it loses focus and some of the humor is hit and miss. Riley also goes through a big change in this act, and it would have been better for the movie to examine this change even further than it does. It all becomes surface level.
Overall:
This is a great movie. Is it better than the first? I would argue they´re close. My personal preference would be Inside Out 2 but many will probably argue that the first one is better. We get to see Riley go through a relatable journey and while the movie doesn´t have any “Bing Bong” heartbreak moments, it still packs a punch. This is a movie that gives you what one has grown to expect from Pixar. With this movie being universally received well critically and financially, expect to see Inside Out 3 in the future.
RATING: 8 of 10
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