‘Inside Out 2’ Review: Even the Animated Version of Puberty Is a Mixed Bag

Many of us are on the cusp of—or fully immersed in—anxiety at any given moment. It’s perhaps better described as a state of being than an emotion, but for the reductive purposes of children’s entertainment anxiety manifests as a frenetic orange creature with a voice very much like that of Maya Hawke. It’s the core feeling in Inside Out 2, a sequel to Disney Pixar’s 2015 hit Inside Out, which reflected on how children can benefit from experiencing a range of emotions, including sadness. Its follow-up, directed by Kelsey Mann (taking over from Pixar wizard Pete Docter), is both less nuanced and more overwrought, resulting in a whimsical animated film that doesn’t quite give you #AllTheFeels of its predecessor.

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

INSIDE OUT 2 ★★1/2 (2.5/4 stars)
Directed by: Kelsey Mann
Written by: Meg LeFauve, Dave Holstein
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Maya Hawke,........

© Observer