The big film in cinemas this week, Inside Out 2, comes nine years after the original 2015 hit film, and a lot is riding on this release in terms of ‘rehabilitating’ Pixar. Luca, Turning Red, Lightyear, and Elemental were the last four films released by this formerly praised-to-high-heaven animation studio, and all four disappointed critics and/or underperformed at the box office, tarnishing the once pristine reputation of the company. So many are observing what happens with this 2024 release and if it rights the presently unsteady ship.

Inside Out 2 is one part nostalgia and two parts a commentary on how bewildering puberty can be, the search for identity at that age, and how adolescent value formation can be complicated. With the one part nostalgia, there’s that easy reunion with the anthropomorphic feelings/emotions we loved in the first film - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and the audience favorite, Anger. Then, we’re introduced to Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. These new emotions come with the coming of age, the development of one’s personality, and being less dependent on one’s parents - the onset of the teenage years.

It’s Riley Andersen once again, so that’s a comfort. She’s now 13 years old, and on the local hockey team; she lives back in Minnesota, and there are two besties on a said team that also join her for the tryouts on the next-level State team as Coach Roberts spots their stellar play and teamwork. So yes, the tryout is a very big deal, and it even means she’ll be rubbing shoulders with slightly older hockey players - including one she’s been admiring from afar, Valentina, a local mini-legend.

Quite a lot at stake, a lot to potentially celebrate and be happy about, so inside Riley’s mind, we’d think Joy should be in control. However, as these are the tumultuous teenage years, many questions are raised. Will she impress the coach? Will she fit in? Are her old friend's unwanted baggage as she makes new ones? Is she good enough, and so on? Enter Anxiety, closely followed by Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. And internally, there’s the struggle between Joy and Anxiety as to who’s in charge of the board.

Fast-paced and filled with surprises that delight, Inside Out 2 is a worthy successor to the first film. It’s directed by Kelsey Mann, who co-wrote the story with Meg LaFauve, who, in turn, handles the screenplay chores with Dave Holstein. Amy Poehler returns as Joy, Lewis Black as Anger, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, and it’s now Tony Hale voicing Fear, and Liza Lapira for Disgust.

Most notable among the newbies are Maya Hawke (daughter of Ethan), who voices Anxiety, and Ayo Edebiri for Envy. French actress Adèle Exarchopoulos takes care of Ennui and is great in the role. But it’s Anxiety that dominates among the new emotions, and Maya Hawke is up to the task.

Now that it’s the onset of puberty, I wonder if the girl's perspective will limit the film's appeal. They’re projecting an $85 million opening, which would catapult it to the year's biggest opening, overtaking both Dune: Part Two ($82.5 million) and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ($80 million). In perspective, back in 2015, the first Inside Out opened domestically in the USA to $90.5 million, hence the big expectations for this sequel. And we all know the cinema industry needs this kick for its summer releases.

Inside Out 2 is an enjoyable ride, so here’s to hoping it’s a big success.