By Kolin Kriner
Taking the world by storm nearly a decade after the first, “Inside Out 2,” directed by Kelsey Mann, hit theaters this summer, offering — quite literally — a whirlwind of emotions.
The film follows a now teenage Riley, played once again by Kaitlyn Dias, as she enters puberty and is introduced to a new range of, more complex, emotions.
The first movie introduced us to Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust and Joy, who spent the first movie learning that it’s okay to be sad, and that sadness is a needed emotion.
This movie, however, implemented more complex emotions that everyone can relate to as you transition between child to teen.
Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui and Envy take to the cast, adding more depth to the emotions Riley feels. Anxiety serves as a phenomenal villain to the plot: the climax of the film literally gave me goosebumps at the film’s portrayal of what can happen if you let anxiety take control.
I have little to no qualms with the film, as I am glad they gave Fear, Anger and Disgust a larger part in the film. However, I wish they dived a little more into Embarrassment, Ennui and Envy, as I felt they were added so there would be more emotions, but served basically nothing to the greater scheme of the film. Not to say they each didn’t get little moments here and there, but I was still left wanting more from these new emotions.
This movie was funny, clever and never had any dull moments, and like its predecessor, was full of heart.
I hope if there is an Inside Out 3, (the movie did make more than $1 billion so it is very likely), it will dive more into the other three new emotions, especially that of Envy and Ennui, because as you grow, so does boredom and desire, just as much as anxiety does.
I give this movie a 4.5/5 stars, docking half a point for the existence of Bloofy and 6, two characters that serve no purpose but popping a vein in my forehead any time they appeared on screen.
