My Favorite Movie of Summer

July 8, 2024

Amanda Murphy,

On Father’s Day weekend, we went to see Inside Out 2. I thought the original was cute and smart. The sequel is nothing short of brilliant. I highly suggest Inside Out 2 for a family outing because of how it helps children identify and understand emotions they may be experiencing. It might end up being my favorite film of the year.

If you haven’t seen the original, I’ll do a quick recap. Produced by Pixar and released by Disney in 2015, the original Inside Out is about a girl named Riley who moves to a new city with her family. She is 11 years old, and the story is told from the perspective of her five core emotions — Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. Riley’s mind is referred to as “Headquarters.” The viewer sees what is happening to Riley, like any normal movie, then is taken into her mind where the other five characters are navigating the challenges she faces.

Movie poster from movies.disney.com/inside-out-2

Inside Out is based on psychological research, and psychologists were brought in as consultants on the project. The same is true of Inside Out 2. In the new one, Riley is coming of age — puberty is specifically mentioned — and new emotions join the original ones. The new emotions are Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui (listlessness or boredom). The story takes place during a stay-away hockey camp. If you’ve seen the original, you know hockey is a big part of Riley’s life, so it was great to see this continue.

There were moments in the movie that our family and the family next to ours that I didn’t know were on the edge of our seats — adults and children. You could hear audible “No!” and gasps from some of the adults in the theater during the film during tense moments. That is how invested people were in the film. As I was watching, I actively thought about how this film would help me talk to my kids about various issues they are facing. Meanwhile, I thought about how the film applied to adult life.

Inside Out 2 is rated PG, and my personal opinion is that it is best suited for children age 8 and over who will understand it a bit more. However, I saw all ages of children in the theater. It entirely depends on what works for your family. This is also a great date night film. You’ll understand why adults are relating to it when you see it. I won’t spoil too much.

Life is busy. No matter what stage you or your children are in during this season of life, Inside Out 2 is a great reminder to take care of one’s emotional and mental health. Seeing a counselor or therapist, especially in times of transition, is never a bad idea. Even seemingly small changes can bring about big feelings.