INSIDE OUT 2- Puberty, Peer Pressure & PANIC.

Auntie duty. The silent badge of “stress-free weekend parenting”. We take the kids, stuff them with sugar, make them our “under-aged party accessories”, use them as chic/guy magnets…send them home to the real parents. No, I’ve never done this…I’m just observing. My nieces and nephews are my equals…which is why we party like this when we get a chance *jokes*. This past weekend, the crime was “Niece Day/Pajama Party”. We dressed in our silliest PJ sets…and went to the movies. INSIDE OUT 2 was on the menu!

As the sequel to Disney PIXAR’s “Inside Out”(2015), we are familiar with the emotions (Joy, Fear, Disgust, Sadness, and Anger) being the “emo-pilots” of their human craft, an adolescent girl named Riley. The sequel picks up as Riley approaches the unavoidable checkpoint of no return– puberty. As Riley approaches puberty, high school, and hockey camp, coincidentally; she signs on to some new experiences, and emotions. The film’s storyline follows the struggles between Riley’s growth, her “first” emotions, and her new emotional counterparts.

Storyline: 5/5

I thought the storyline was absolutely necessary. A “take home” message about the importance of self-awareness and emotional health. Especially in our youth. Carrying the same weight as the first film, Inside Out 2 focused even more on taking the time to analyze what is going on inside that head of Riley… and ours. I loved the scene (spoil alert) when Riley’s emotion, Anxiety, was working OVERTIME in her headspace. Instead of succumbing to a panic attack, Riley chose to sit, breathe, breathe again, until she calmed herself. It delivered the reminder that when we are overwhelmed with ANY emotion (especially fear, anxiety, and anger) we cannot easily make the best choices. This can lead to many regretted decisions, some life altering.

Screenplay: 4/5

For me, I felt the screenplay was vibrant, fast paced, and fun for the kids. However, I wished that some parts did play out a little slower, with more detail. Overall, it was a very smooth film, and easy to keep up with.

Graphics: 5/5

I absolutely loved the design of the inside of Riley’s “emotional headquarters” lol. They also showed more fractions of it in the sequel versus the first one. I loved the parade showing “alter-realities” of Riley’s life goals– if she didn’t make the NHL lol. From the “Chef Riley” parade balloon to the chief judge–that scene was memorable lol. The fuzzy “byte” design of the emotions is very creative and says, “we are FEELINGS”.

Characters: 4/5

Riley’s new emotions were “inevitable” lol. I believe they represented exactly what puberty can bring. Envy, Anxiety, Embarrassment (my favorite), Ennui (French for “boredom”), were true to their “feels”. The ONLY reason I gave it a 4 out of 5 is because they did mother NOSTALGIA so wrong lol. Kicking her out because they felt she showed up before her time was INSANE but hilarious lol. I understood it though, we love you over here Nostalgia. Take us “back in the day” when it’s necessary! Definitely a MUST WATCH with the family. Fun and educational. -Ngozi The Blessed