I was waiting for this movie to be released on OTT platforms. It came out on Google TV, but I didn’t have a subscription. So, I waited for it on Disney or Amazon. I have to admit, I missed seeing this in big screen. The quick recap of Inside Out 1, where Riley’s emotions were simple. They were joy, sadness, disgust, anger, and fear which explained her behavior, as well as her parents. The main idea of the joy to make sure that Riley feels happy and good throughout. However, by the end, Joy realized that sadness and the other emotions are necessary to navigate life.
For Inside Out 2, I wasn’t sure if it was meant for teenagers or adults. Some might think it’s just an animated film for kids, but I don’t agree. It helps explain how people act in different situations. When Riley reaches puberty, new emotions like anxiety, embarrassment, envy, nostalgia, and boredom appear alongside her existing ones. At first, the memories from the first movie formed her belief that she is a good person, kind and caring.
When anxiety takes control over the emotional control panel after puberty, Riley starts to predict and deal with the unknown. Her behavior changes to focus on what will help her in the future. Anxiety becomes the dominant emotion, pushing Joy and others aside. Joy struggles to bring things back to how things were. There’s a great line from Joy about adulthood: we have so much to deal with, which is why happiness feels harder to hold onto happiness all the time. Riley’s belief shifts from “I am a good person” to “I am not good enough” when anxiety take control. She worries about fitting in, even thinking, “If I don’t like that band, I’ll never be friends with them.”
The ending was remarkable. When Joy tries to restore Riley’s belief that she’s good and kind, Anxiety steps in, saying, “We don’t define Riley.” That line really stood out. Joy then adds that all of Riley’s memories, even the ones pushed to the back of her mind, contribute to who she is.
In the end, Riley is a mix of all her experiences. She is good, kind, selfish, and more. She accepts her true self, and the final quote was very powerful. But, It is also important to note that our sense of self isn’t static. It grows and adapts with every experience, which is just one of the factors that shape who we are!
I do wonder why emotions like excitement, love, pride, guilt, and loneliness weren’t explored. Maybe they’re saving them for the third part? If so, I’m excited!
Cheers
Check out the other movies reviews
If you like what you see and wish to support my work, then
Share your thoughts/suggestion at the comment section or mail at
randomwhyss[@]gmail[dot]com
Don’t miss out! Get notified about new blog posts straight to your inbox !
(No spam, pinky promise!)
Enter your mail to receive updates
Random Whys 