“Inside Out 2” continues its emotional exploration into the mind of young Riley, as she navigates the complexity of being a teenager. The film follows Riley as she and her friends take on a summer hockey camp before they enter their freshman year in high school. Puberty comes in overnight and puts Riley’s brain under construction – making room for some new emotions.
Envy, Anxiety, Embarrassment, and Ennui come in and make themselves at home while the original emotions, Joy, Sadness, Disgust and Anger, struggle to adapt to their new roommates. We are taken on a wild ride through Riley’s brain as the new emotions are set on changing everything.
Ennui (French for boredom, and honestly sounds a lot better too) flings themself on the couch, married to their smartphone without a care in the world for what the other emotions are doing. Envy is a cute little fuzzy-haired, wide-eyed girl who loves everyone’s ideas, but wishes she had thought of them first. Embarrassment is this big clumsy guy who is constantly retreating into the protective shell of his hoodie. Anxiety comes in with a silly look and goofy quips, but quickly narrows Riley’s attention on all the different things that could go wrong.
In Anxiety’s campaign to protect Riley from harm (both emotional and physical,) it easily spirals out of control. Her original sense of self with affirmations like “I am a good person” and “I am a good friend” are promptly replaced with “I’ll never be good enough” and a completely volatile way of viewing her place in the world. Riley struggles to reel in this new emotion, and in this struggle, she learns the importance of not repressing emotions, but embracing them.
The goofy and relatable portrayal of these character allows kids to see such complex emotions as not scary, but inviting. It helps them to better understand and name their feelings. It validates their experiences and shows them that they’re not alone. An emphasis is put on mental health and the importance of seeking support when dealing with difficult emotions, and the consequences of not doing so.
This long-awaited sequel not only builds upon the emotional landscape introduced in the first movie but also showcases new emotions and themes that truly capture what it’s like to be a young teen. “Inside Out 2” has made itself a valuable tool for teaching emotional intelligence to both children and adults.
