“Inside Out 2” makes it much easier to get a handle on emotions.
Without the learning curve of the first film, the sequel is more understandable and ready for Riley, the 13-year-old owner of said emotions, to put them to the test.
When Riley is on an ice rink, hoping to make a hockey team, a new emotion – Anxiety – arrives and soon it’s battling the others to own the brain. In the process, Joy (Amy Poehler) must keep Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust at bay while Embarrassment, Envy and Ennui move in.
It’s like playing a familiar game with more players. While situations empower various emotions, it’s simply a matter of keeping them in check.
Riley (Kensington Tallman) has a competitive spirit that makes her an ideal candidate for a winning team. In the process, however, she’s ignoring old friends who helped her get where she is. That gets the emotions running and, quickly, there’s an all-out battle in her head.
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Director Kelsey Mann introduces some Minions-like characters (they’re blue with yellow accessories – go figure) and Skittles-like building blocks that seem to tumble with ease.
While Riley is skating down the rink, the emotions in her mind react accordingly. Again, it’s an easier grasp of the concept and a bit more fun to see the faceoffs.
Poor Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser) retreats into his hoodie while Anxiety (Maya Hawke) bounces all over the place. Only Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulos) takes things in stride and becomes the one emotion you want to see more of.
A trip on the head of a broccoli sprig conjures a silent movie journey down a treacherous river. It gets a good laugh, too, about eating right and shows those teen years could be fun – if Mann and company decide to go in that direction. “Inside Out 2” stays fairly focused, however, and doesn’t shift into thoughts of dating, sex or experimentation. This is very much a “god I hope I get it” journey that rights a few wrongs in the process.
Hawke is a nice addition (even though Anxiety gets more time than we’d like) and Poehler pushes things along at a good clip. Fear and Disgust have new voices (Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling opted out) but Sadness (Phyllis Smith) gets ample time to team up with others. Only Anger (Lewis Black) seems shortchanged and, in a way, that’s probably OK.
What “Inside Out 2” does is tee up a theme park attraction. There’s a visit to Imagination Land and, guess what? Epcot has needed a refresh on its imagination ride for years. Score.
Because this sequel only gets us so far, it’s a safe bet “Inside Out 3” is already on the books. It could handle those even-more-precarious worlds and find Riley in situations even “Grease” couldn’t imagine.
Nostalgia, an old lady character, tries to make an entrance but the others encourage her to wait, suggesting that time will come (unless this somehow connects to “Up”).
Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller
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Bruce Miller is editor of the Sioux City Journal.
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