3 Things Parents Should Know about Inside Out 2

1. It’s about Change

The film opens with a flashback to the first film before it turns to the modern day, where Joy, Anger, and Riley’s tried-and-true emotions are celebrating Riley’s birthday. We’re told Riley is “really kind” (even to stray cats). We’re told she’s a good friend to others. We’re also told she got braces (with extra rubber bands!). We even see Riley score a winning goal. 

“Riley is still exceptional,” Joy says. 

But then everything changes. One night while Joy and the others are asleep, a demolition crew arrives, complete with a wrecking ball. The crew destroys the windows. It saws the couches in half. Anxiety, Envy, and the new crew move in. Overnight, Riley changes. 

Her situation grows more dire at soccer camp when Anxiety turns against the older emotions, locking up Joy, Anger, and the others and sending them off to the equivalent of emotional Alcatraz. With Anxiety in charge, Riley dumps Bree and Grace and then befriends a “cooler” senior camper, Valentina. Riley grows temperamental. She grows anxious. (She spends an extraordinary amount of time figuring out the coolest way to walk.) She even considers breaking into the office of the camp coach to read the coach’s camp notes.

Riley has only one hope: Joy, Sadness, and the “old school” emotions overtaking Anxiety. But first, they have to find a way to break out. 

Photo Credit: ©Disney/Pixar

2. It’s about Friends and Family

It’s easy for parents to forget what it was like to be a teen filled with swirling emotions, a changing body, and the ups and downs of finding one's place in the world. Inside Out 2 reminds us of the complexity and beauty of that journey, capturing the essence of adolescence with heart and humor. Riley feels pressure to laugh the right way. She feels pressure to sit the right way. At one point, an older girl wrongly says Riley is from Michigan -- she’s actually from Minnesota -- but Riley can’t find the courage to correct her. 

Fortunately, Riley has a solid support team to guide her through this awkward stage, even if it’s not easy. 

“You’re just changing,” her mom tells her, comparing her to a beautiful butterfly undergoing metamorphosis.

Her friends, too, support her, even after she pushes them away. (She apologizes to Bree and Grace, and they, of course, forgive her.)

Inside Out 2 urges parents to be patient with their moody teens and to offer understanding and love during those turbulent times. After all, we were once there, too. 

It has solid messages for tweens and teens, too: Don’t be a phony. Don’t be hard on yourself. Walk with patience and grace -- for yourself and others. Despite what you think, no one is looking at you. 

Photo Credit: ©Disney/Pixar

3. It’s Fun … and Kid-Friendly

This sequel isn’t as good as its predecessor, but it still has plenty of hilarious moments. 

Joy and the crew visit Imagination Land, where they encounter “Mount Crushmore” (a Rushmore-like monument featuring Riley’s deepest boy crushes) and the “Rumor Mill” (an actual watermill that spits out random gossip).  

The new lineup of emotions brings fresh humor and charm to the story. Embarrassment is too shy to look others in the eye.  Envy is jealous of other girls’ hairstyles. Boredom (technically, “Ennui”) constantly scrolls through his phone. Anxiety imagines the worst-case scenario … about everything. (If Riley does not make the high school hockey team, Anxiety says, then she will never have another friend and die lonely.)

Thankfully, Inside Out 2 is kid-friendly, too. It includes no sexuality, no violence, and no language. (The worst we hear are four instances of “gosh.”)

Of course, it’s essential that moviegoing children understand that they are responsible for their actions -- and not an out-of-control cadre of anthropomorphized emotions in their heads. But once you get past that caveat, there’s plenty to like in this sequel.

Rated PG for some thematic elements. 

Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars. 

Family-friendly rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Related Resource: The Hidden Dangers Lurking in Children's Entertainment

Media is bombarding our children at every turn, and at the same time the generation gap is widening. On this episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World, host Catherine Segars speaks with special guest, Dr. Walt Mueller, who specializes in understanding the next generation—their thought processes, their challenges, and the many ways that entertainment and media are bombarding our kids’ lives with deeply concerning messages. As founder and president of The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, Walt has worked as a cross-generational liaison for more than 35 years. As Walt wisely advises, we must read, listen to, and watch what is engaging the hearts and minds of our kids. We must not to be alarmist, but we must be aware. And we must speak first on all of these topics to establish a foundation of truth for our kids.Listen below! Be sure to subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!

Photo Credit: ©Disney/Pixar