The Teen Years Hit in Inside Out 2

There was so much drama sparking about Inside Out 2 and whether or not we should take the kids to see it. Rumors were flying all around about Riley and people talked about the bathroom so much that they made it seem like it was just over the top. My seventeen-year-old went to see it first with her friends, then my sixteen-year-old son, and finally my youngest saw it with his dad. When we finally got our code our youngest was so excited for us all to see it as a family because it had one scene he felt we all should see and experience together.

Introducing New Emotions:

Teen years hit like a ton of bricks for me with my son and my daughter. It was different with them both, I had to prepare each of them differently for puberty. I felt as a mom I was more prepared to handle dealing with preparing for my daughter’s teen years and getting her ready for them. I had the girl conversations with her and did everything I thought I needed to get us ready and then COVID came in and school was full time at home. Now she was spending way more time on the phone with her friends than expected texting or even talking. Then my daughter started to have fewer conversations with me despite me asking her questions about stuff and her friends. I felt like Riley’s mom a few times looking at this movie. Our son was harder to deal with because his newest emotion was depression and that hit hard not knowing it first. The scene where the memories are hidden and that one thing is hidden is one thing I thought about when looking at the movie.

About Inside Out 2:

Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone. Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety, alongside Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust. Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen.

Bonus Features*

● New Emotions – With Riley’s imminent puberty, the story of Inside Out 2 always suggested that there would be a part 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. It was also informed by some of the discarded scenes and characters from the original film. In this documentary, we’ll discuss the 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.

Family Friendly or Movie Night Fun?

You may be wondering if this would be family-friendly or good for movie night and I would recommend it for a crowd of ten and over. With the added emotions and some of the things they talk about fifth grade is the right range for this movie. Shyness helps kids in range start that conversation about being shy and starting to come out of the shell, it’s an easy way to begin and to continue it in middle school. Ennui is funny to watch and a good way to talk to your kids about their constant use of their phones in school or even at home. Envy can also help start some great conversations as well. Use it how you need to get the conversation started.

Anxiety can be used as a conversation starter for the movie however, I don’t think a lot of parents will be using it for that purpose. At least not the way it was used in the film at all. Overall it’s a good movie to watch for a family movie night. Parents of kids under ten it is up to you if you want to expose them to the film, they won’t understand anything most likely, so as a family film it should be fine. This movie does hit on teen years and takes “2” in the title in a different direction than you would usually see for movies. It reminded me of the Toy Story series and how Andy grew up and away from his toys.

● Deleted Scenes

○ 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.
○ 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.

Bubble Pen Giveaway

My sister and I wanted to do something special for one reader and offer them a little prize pack of Inside Out 2 Bubble Pens. My sister makes and sells various kinds of characters and designs of bubble pens. Some are very fancy and some are just cute and fun, like the ones for Inside Out 2. Entering is super easy, make sure you enter via the tool below.

Inside Out 2 Bubble Pen Giveaway