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This week at The Tryon Theatre is “Inside Out 2” (Mann), a sequel to 2015’s “Inside Out,” one of Pixar Studio’s most acclaimed films. The world of “Inside Out” takes place inside the mind of a girl named Riley, with Riley’s various emotions all anthropomorphized and characterized as unique individuals, all working together (at times begrudgingly) to navigate Riley’s experiences of life. 

Like all of Pixar’s work, both of the “Inside Out” films are, of course, designed for a childhood audience, bright in both style and substance, hilariously silly, and ultimately wholesome. However, the heights of animated artistry achieved and the impressively poignant depth of their storytelling provide as significant an appeal for an adult audience as it does for a younger one. “Inside Out 2” has already become Pixar’s most commercially successful film, breaking attendance records worldwide. 

The first film introduced the quintet of Joy (the story’s arguable protagonist), Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear. These emotions are the base, the simplest form of one’s mental development, all visible in the earnestly quixotic emotional states of children. The dominant function of this team is to maintain the formation and storage of Riley’s memories, and in doing so, her experientially constructed sense of self. The first film finds these emotions reaching a loving and balanced understanding of their need for cooperation in forming memories, rather than taking turns at the wheel with unilateral influence. 

This sequel follows Riley as she enters high school and her teenage years, a time in life when her emotional cast expands, introducing new and nuanced characters into the fold, namely: Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui. These complex and seemingly negative emotions prove a new and complicated obstacle for the original group, one that demands empathy and growth from all, including Riley. 

For, as any adult knows, these emotions are not necessarily good nor bad, but have their appropriate place in the emotional spectrum. 

For any filmgoer who found themself a fan of the first film, “Inside Out 2” will scratch the same cinematic itch, providing laughter, heart, and joy in a tightly wound package. Like any sequel, there is never quite the same charm of novelty found in its predecessor, but the excellence of storytelling and creativity in the expansion of Riley’s internal world is a magical experience all the same. 

Pixar has long proven itself a reliable commercial and critical success, crafting films that provide broad and insightful appeal for the whole family. “Inside Out 2” is another achievement in this long history and will surely entertain filmgoers of any age in need of art bursting with laughter and care. We hope to share some fun with you soon!