Inside Out 2: A Review

INSIDE OUT 2: A REVIEW

grab a cup of tea, ‘cuz life’s getting messy

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

Riley survived moving across the country, making new friends, starting a new school, and the rollercoaster of (anthropomorphized) emotions that came with it. Now it’s time for her next big adventure: hockey camp with her two best friends Grace and Bree. Of course, the Big Five (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust) chilling up in HeadQuarters are there to help. Ever since the move to San Francisco, the team has felt like the worst is behind Riley.

But then comes puberty, which (to no post-adolescent’s surprise) kinda stinks. Joy realizes that new emotions like Anxiety, Embarrassment, and Envy makes Riley’s emotional life less like a rollercoaster and more like a super-sized hurricane. The teenager’s feelings about herself are already difficult enough to understand without all the angsty newcomers, the worst of which is Anxiety. Joy isn’t sure if Riley’s self image can handle how messy life can really get.

anxious to please

Throughout Inside Out 2, we see a story that is likely just as personal as it is Pixar. While new friendships, choices, and rising expectations place Riley under an about-to-explode volcano of pressure, our protagonist’s main battle is what she thinks of herself.

Anxiety, however, isn’t so concerned with Riley’s self-image as she is with preserving Riley’s social life. According to the frizzly-haired ball of nerves, every tiny decision Riley makes could determine her happiness for the rest of her entire life (no pressure). While Joy may just want to give Anxiety a big mug of chamomile tea, she begins to worry the newcomer might have some good points.

Riley, unaware of Joy and Anxiety’s battle, has her own questions about self image & growing up. Unfortunately, a lot of her recent choices have been a knee-jerk response rooted in confusion over who she is at her core. Is she a popular jock? Or a goofy tween? Is she a failure? Is she a good person? Is she selfish? Is she a dissapointment? Riley has no idea how to find the answer.

I’m pretty sure every human being with a pulse has run across these questions. Who are we, really? And, like Riley, the main question really boils down to: are we good enough?

the hug

Through an exciting, colorful, punny, and pretty poignant adventure, Joy and the rest of the gang end up realizing just how confused Riley is. Her self-image is pinging all over the place, fueled by every emotion and memory– both good and bad. By the end of the film, Riley’s internal monologue has desperately concluded “I’m not good enough!” That’s when everything clicks into place for Joy. She gives the tangible representation of Riley’s personality a big, squeezing hug. No matter what Riley thinks of herself, Joy and the rest of the emotions aren’t giving up on her.

Inside Out 2 is a gold mine of deep themes, conversation-starters, and insights into emotional health. What I took away, however, was that big hug at the end. It reminds me of how often we feel completely helpless about our identity. “I’m not good enough!” is a cry of fear that Jesus looks on with compassion. When we come to our Heavenly Father for comfort, God doesn’t see us the way we see ourselves. Instead, He hugs us, forgives us, and constantly reminds us of how, through Jesus Christ, we are new people. There’s no messing up that can change that.

Conclusion

This animated movie provides an unexpected look at God’s unconditional love for us, even when we feel messy and life’s one big tangle of anxiety. It’s a funny movie, and one that will probably (like the first one) make you grab a box of Kleenex. But just remember–there’s joy at the end.

Credits

Main image: from https://emilybrookswriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/riley-inside-out-2-anxiety.webp. Edited in Canva.

Joy H. Books