I saw Inside Out 2 in theatres when it originally came out. I remember going in just a little skeptical because you never know how animated sequels will go. But the movie pleasantly surprised me and got me to cry a few times.
Inside Out 2 follows Riley as she enters her teenage years and going into high school. She is getting ready for a weekend ice hockey camp when four new emotions show up - Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui.
Like the first movie, I thought that the way the emotions are dealt with are realistic and told in a child-friendly way without talking down to children.
As someone who deals with anxiety, I related so much to Riley and how the emotion took over, how it affected the other emotions, and how it affects your Sense of Self (something Joy works on filling only with positive memories throughout the movie).
I only had a couple things that I thought hindered the movie slightly:
First, that "Anxiety" was a new emotion only hitting with puberty. Most people I know that have generalized anxiety have experienced it most of their life, not just after puberty. Of course, anxiety is nuanced. It can be something situational or something lifelong. It can also start at any time. To me, it felt like a portrayal of true generalized anxiety, so starting at puberty didn't ring fully true.
Next is that Joy's journey is much the same as the first. She fights for control and wants Riley to only experience good emotions and good memories. Obviously, like the first film, this backfires. All emotions are necessary and the more we try to force a toxic positivity mindset, the worse it can get. This didn't bother me a ton because I do think it's a very important message for both children and adults alike. While anxiety, embarrassment, and sadness are uncomfortable, they are necessary to experience. Life is about finding balance in our emotions and allowing ourselves to feel them.
Overall, I think the movie is really well done and a great example of emotions for all ages. While it's obviously intended for a younger audience, I do think adult audiences can get a lot out of it. This come from my previous statement that it doesn't talk down to their intended audience. For the most part, I think this is what Pixar gets right with their movies. They all have very common themes of the importance of self improvement and friends and family. They're all told in a way that's easy for children to understand but they never talk down to kids as if they're too stupid to understand bigger concepts. This is why I think their movies are usually very successful. They treat kids as real people capable of understanding. Plus, this helps capture an older audience as well.
If you're a fan of the original Inside Out, definitely check the sequel out. If you haven't seen the original, what are you waiting for? Have a mini marathon with both movies!