Jeri Jacquin

Coming to digital this week (Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home) and soon to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and DVD from writer/director Kelsey Mann, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Home Entertainment comes the growing up of INSIDE OUT 2.

It has been a few years since Riley (Kensington Tallman), Mom (Diane Lane) and Dad (Kyle MacLachlan) moved to San Francisco. Recently turning 13, Riley is making her way to high school. Tagging along with her still is Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Tony Hale), Anger (Lewis Black) and Disgust (Liza Lapira) who are eager to be a part of that transition. Joy, has even come up with a new idea in Riley’s mind that she calls the “Sense of Self” that holds the core of the young girl’s personality and shoots the negativity to the back of her mind.

Riley and best friends Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green) and Grace (Grace Lu) are thrilled to be invited to a hockey camp that could get them on the very well-known team called the Firehawks. That’s not the only fire coming as that night, Joy and the gang are alerted to a Puberty Alarm and their headquarters is barraged by workers and another new console. With that, four new emotions come into play – Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adele Exarchopulos), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and a visit from Nostalgia (June Squibb).

Just in time as Riley finds out her besties won’t be going to the same high school and that sets the new emotions into action. Anxiety tells Joy that things are different now and that she isn’t capable of helping Riley succeed. Especially when her favorite hockey player Val (Lilimar) sort of takes her under wing but that leaves Bree and Grace out in the cold. When Joy makes it clear that it is hurtful what Anxiety is doing, well, they gang gets shot out of headquarters allowing Anxiety complete control.

Joy, Anger, Sadness, Fear and Disgust aren’t going to take it lying down! A plan is put into place to help Riley find herself again and put Anxiety into its place. It isn’t going to be easy and the gang is going to be put through the paces but Riley is their girl, they know who she is and what she is capable of refusing to let Anxiety decide who she is to be!

Other voice cast include Yvette Nicole Brown as Coach Roberts, Ron Funches as Bloofy, Yong Yea as Lace Slashblade, James Austin Johnson as Pouchy, Steve Purcell as Deep Dark Secret, Dave Goelz as Mind Cop Frank, Kirk Thatcher as Foreman, Frank Oz as Mind Cop Dave, Paula Pell as Mom’s anger, Pete Docter as Dad’s anger, Sarayu Blue as Margie, Flea as Jake, Bobby Moynihan as Forgetter Bobby, and John Ratzenberger as Fritz.

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Bonus Features include New Emotions – With Riley’s imminent puberty, the story of Inside Out 2 always suggested that there would be a party of new emotions complicating Riley’s world—and throwing a wrench into Joy’s hard-won stability. But exactly what those new emotions could be was a big question mark. Casting the new emotions in Riley’s mind was a fun exploration into the shifting mindset of a teenager, and was also informed by some of the discarded scenes and characters from the original film. In this documentary we’ll discuss that process of creating Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy—from narrowing them down from a long list of possible emotions, to the design, animation, and voicing of these new, hilarious, and strangely recognizable characters.

Unlocking the Vault – In a kind of visual commentary, a group of central creatives watch and discuss the scene “The Vault.” As they stop and start—and refer to various IP versions of the scene—we’ll hear about the inspiration for Riley’s repressed memories like Bloofy and Lance Slashblade, the development of the scene in Story, and the technical challenges of creating 2D characters that exist in the CG world of Riley’s mind.

Deleted Scenes include Cold Open – In this alternate opening, a now 13-year-old Riley awkwardly fumbles her way through an original song she wrote for a school audition.

Broken Joy – After momentarily being unable to drive the console, Joy worries that she might be starting to malfunction, Pool Party – After Riley tries too hard to be fun at an older teen’s party – resulting in utter embarrassment – her “Anxiety” becomes “Self-Loathing” who then ousts our hero emotions from headquarters, Puberty Park – After seeing their faces printed on “wanted posters,” Joy and the others rogue emotions race through a puberty-themed amusement park while being chased by mind worker cops, and Shame Spiral – At a lock-in with some cool, older girls, Riley and friends play a game of “Never Have I Ever” that goes a bit too far – wreaking havoc in Riley’s mind.

Oh my gosh, INSIDE OUT 2 is absolutely fantastic and I say this as a mom and grandmom! Seeing the film with my family, I was taken back in time in so many ways. Of course, I recognized the emotional change for myself at 13 (yes, I can remember that far back), but even more so laughed at things that reminded me of my grown-up daughter when she was that age. More importantly, my pre-teen granddaughter who is already showing signs of the “new crew” that is in the film.

That being said, the story touches on so many things that it is a roller coaster ride of emotions for the audience – exactly what it’s like to go through puberty. Having to see it through the mind of Riley is charming, hilarious, meaningful and may even help kids understand what is happening to them. Watching the film, I turned to my granddaughter and said with a laugh, “remind you of anyone?” and with equal laughter she said proudly and confidently – “yes, ME!”.

Recognizing it, I believe, makes the difference and, INSIDE OUT 2 is a perfect roadmap for us all actually. Understanding where the emotions come from and giving them a “face” as it were had the theatre in such a great place as the film was showing. Parents were actually talking to their kids in the lobby about it all. That’s amazing!

I absolutely adore Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust and, in a way at my age, I still welcome them as part of being so very human. Secretly I love Anger and his thought process always leaving me cracking up. That’s what INSIDE OUT started out being in 2015, a way for us all to process our feelings and understanding them but those emotions faces and voices. We can thank Pixar, Disney and an amazing cast for knowing exactly who to choose for each.

The new additions of Anxiety set a whole new pace (if you can keep up) but it’s one the original gang can deal with in their own unique ways and we are all there for it and for Riley!

In the end – make room for new emotions!

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