Hi, I’m Mateo Rivera, The Cinematic Catholic, here to review “Inside Out 2” the new movie from Disney and Pixar. This sequel picks up a few years after the first installment, following Riley as she prepares to enter high school. With new stages in life come new emotions, making for a compelling exploration of Riley’s journey in search of her sense of self. This will be a spoiler-free review—let’s dive right in!

Inside Out 2 Catholic Movie Review

Riley’s Emotional Evolution

In the film’s opening, we catch up with Riley’s life over the past two years. Unlike the first movie, where her actions were primarily driven by emotions, “Inside Out 2” introduces her beliefs as a significant influence. These beliefs, depicted as glowing orbs with strings, can override her emotions. A key example is a classroom scene where Riley helps a girl despite her emotions debating the potential embarrassment. Instead of letting her emotions decide, her beliefs affirm, “I am a good person,” prompting her to act.

This portrayal highlights how one can act on beliefs even when emotions suggest otherwise—a valuable lesson for children, especially in a movie focused on understanding and managing emotions.

Exploring New Emotions

The film centers around Riley’s evolving beliefs and self-view as new emotions, led by anxiety, come into play. This addition profoundly affects her sense of self, demonstrating how different emotions shape self-perception. Maya Hawk’s portrayal of anxiety is particularly noteworthy, providing a relatable depiction of anxiety attacks within the film’s universe. This portrayal has resonated with both children and parents, many of whom have found the film’s handling of anxiety deeply moving and insightful.

A Tool for Emotional Conversations

“Inside Out 2” extends beyond entertainment, offering a tool for discussing emotions. Its depiction of anxiety, emotional growth, and self-discovery can be healing and serve as a conversation starter about coping strategies and emotional management. This makes the film valuable not only for children but for adults seeking to understand and articulate these experiences.

A Brief Journey Through Riley’s Growth

One aspect I wish had more development is the timeline of Riley’s growth. The film spans only a weekend, whereas the first movie covered several months, showing Riley’s adaptation to moving and adjusting to a new school. A longer exploration could offer a richer depiction of her emotional development. A potential third film could follow Riley into college, similar to “Toy Story 3” though it might face challenges in balancing adult themes with a family-friendly approach.

A Catholic Lens on Emotions

Viewed through a Catholic lens, “Inside Out 2” can initiate valuable discussions about emotions and beliefs, especially as children grow and encounter complex feelings like anxiety and embarrassment. While the movie doesn’t address religion directly, it provides a platform to discuss how beliefs shape our actions and are informed by faith, applying these principles in real-life scenarios.

Conclusion and Ratings

“Inside Out 2” is a delightful and thought-provoking film. It retains the charm and humor of the original while introducing deeper conversations about emotions and beliefs.

For my COPILE rating, I give this film an 8 out of 10 for its engaging and insightful content.

From a Catholic perspective, it earns a 7 out of 10, offering meaningful discussions on beliefs and emotional growth.

Thank you for reading my review and analysis of “Inside Out 2.” I hope you enjoy the film and find it as enriching and entertaining as I did. Until next time, ¡Hasta la vista!