Movie Review: ‘Inside Out 2’

NEW YORK (OSV News) – It’s a notable phenomenon in contemporary Hollywood that some movies aimed primarily at children, especially those produced by Pixar, prove both more substantive and emotionally resonant than many films competing for a grown audience. Such is the case with the animated psychological comedy “Inside Out 2” (Disney).

This worthy successor to the outstanding 2015 original returns viewers to the mind of hockey-loving lass Riley Andersen (voice of Kensington Tallman).

The first film saw 11-year-old Riley — and her personified emotions, led by Joy (voice of Amy Poehler) — trying to cope with her family’s move from Minnesota to San Francisco. Two years on in the franchise’s timeline, Riley and co.’s new challenge arrives with the onset of puberty.

Wholesale disruption ensues as a wrecking crew (presumably made up of hormones, though this is not specified) remodels Riley’s mental HQ. This is done partly to make way for an ensemble of heretofore unknown feelings — Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke) foremost among them.

As the newcomers displace the veterans, Riley’s previously upright moral core is in danger of being shunted aside in favor of a warped ethos based on the longing for popularity at all costs. All this unfolds as Riley attends hockey camp and prepares for the transition to high school.

As scripted by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, keen insight and witty humor are the hallmarks of director Kelsey Mann’s sequel. Satirical jabs at video game characters and a sendup of kids’ TV shows draw laughs while the screenplay’s celebration of kindness, loyalty to friends, teamwork and forgiveness will be appreciated by viewers young and old alike.

Discreet mention of the transformation Riley is undergoing, together with scenes of danger, may debar little ones. But the absence of any genuinely objectionable elements makes the picture a suitable treat for all others.

The film contains brief mature references, cartoon violence and characters in peril. The OSV News classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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