Step aside, core emotions – new feelings have arrived and they’re realer than ever.
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Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for new emotions. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, and Lewis Black return to voice Joy, Sadness and Anger respectively with replacements Tony Hale and Liza Lapira voicing Fear and Disgust. Joining them are Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adele Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser voicing Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment.
There’s never been a more befitting voice cast for the emotions when Inside Out premiered back in 2015 and the same can be said for its sequel. Anxiety is undoubtably the star of the show in this coming-of-age tale but its truly Hawke’s control that breathes life to the character, giving it a more unique take beyond plain manic anxiousness. The Bear’s Edebiri also proves to be an underrated talent with her endearing take on Envy.
In contrast to Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red’s symbolism of puberty, Inside Out 2 takes a more direct approach at addressing the many qualms of a teenager.
While we may have seen films portraying a fair share of normalising anxiety in its characters, this sequel has the advantage of its unique position to give insight on the inner display of this reaction, adding much depth to the feeling we’re all too familiar with. It’s almost relieving to witness what an anxiety attack could look like on the inside, as if to give clarity for the emotion most of us struggle to deal with.
It is apparent the goal was to highlight the new emotions in Riley but unfortunately, this also means many things were sidelined and left unexplored further. Thankfully its tongue-in-cheek take on a Dora the Explorer rip-off had just about the right amount of screentime seeing how its the funniest running gag throughout the film.
Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2 might not tug on your heartstrings as much as its predecessor but its core message of acceptance and getting in touch with our emotions are still very much present. It's sure to make one look inward and understand it is okay to feel the way we do.
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