Things haven’t been great for Pixar in recent years. Three of their best films (Soul, Luca, and Turning Red) were sent straight to Disney+ due to the pandemic, while their recent cinema releases, Lightyear and Elemental, failed to ignite that flame they used to have. Now, they have turned to one of their best films, Inside Out, to try and get their studio back on track, and while the original is a very hard act to follow, Inside Out 2 comes pretty close.

Riley is growing up quickly. Still having a love for ice hockey and surrounded by her best friends, they are invited to participate in an exclusive hockey camp, where Riley’s hero, Valentina, takes her under her wing. Meanwhile, in Riley’s head, the emotions are having the time of their lives until new emotions appear in the form of Anxiety, Envy, Embassassment and Ennui. Banishing Joy and the gang, they decide the only way to get back into the control room is to head to Riley’s past memories before her whole life is ruined by puberty.

Taking over from original director Pete Docter, newcomer Kelsey Mann has a hard act to follow. What made the original film so near perfect was how it talked to the audience and explained to the younger members about emotions, as well as being a brightly coloured mix of comedy and heartbreak (we still miss Bing-Bong). This film is devoted to a child’s life period where nothing seems to make sense: puberty. Thankfully, Mann hasn’t tried to change the format or how to speak to the cinema crowd. This is a beautiful way to examine the gap between childhood and adulthood.

The film starts with your favourite characters from the previous movie still controlling their young girl but watching as her friendship grows with fellow hockey players Grace and Bree. But when they head to camp, they announce that they won’t be going to the same high school as Riley, which sends her head into a whirlwind. Enter the new emotions to mess with Riley’s head and send the original emotions away, leaving the new ones to take control.

This is where the film becomes familiar. Joy and the gang have to go on another journey around the various areas of Riley’s head, and like in the previous film, there are perils and mishaps, and they wonder how they will get back. These scenes have their moments, like coming up to the deep abyss called Sar Casm. However, it isn’t as engaging as the past film, mainly because the supporting characters they encounter are not as engaging as Bing-Bong.

Where the film really does work is the confusion of Riley being led by the new emotions. Like puberty, this is a period where nothing seems to make sense, and decisions are never the right ones. Mann’s use of the new emotions, especially Anxiety, who thinks she has all the answers, is brilliantly executed, and you can see that Riley is being led down the wrong paths, finding herself torn between her old friends and trying to impress her new ones, particularly Valentina.

As you would expect from a Pixar movie, the animation is terrific, allowing the young to get lost in the colours. At the same time, older audiences can enjoy the complex storytelling and use of explanations of why teenage life is so complex. It also helps to have a terrific voice cast. Amy Poehler returns as Joy, along with Phyllis Smith’s sadness and Lewis Black as Anger. From the new cast, Maya Hawke, Stranger Things’ Robin is excellent, giving the confused energy needed for Anxiety.

Inside Out 2 is a decent sequel but would never be better than the first film. It brings a new angle to the story, and everything is done well. However, if there is to be a third movie, maybe the journey back to the central station could be replaced, as we have been there, done that. Having said that, this is a welcome return to form from Pixar. It’s great to have them back.

4 out of 5

Director: Kelsey Mann

Starring: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Lisa Lapira, Tony Hale, Ayo Edebiri, Paul Walter Hauser, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan

Written by: Dave Holstein, (also story) Meg LeFauve and (story) Kelsey Mann

Running Time: 96 mins

Cert: U

Release date: 14th June 2024