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Pixar's Inside Out 2 delivers! Add this one to your family's summer bucket list.

Where the Heart Resides
PIXAR'S INSIDE OUT 2 DELIVERS! ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR FAMILY'S SUMMER BUCKET LIST

By: Amanda Hyslop | July 18, 2024

One thing my family loves about summer is the excitement of movie blockbusters. Last year brought us Barbie and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. This year, the anticipation revolved around Pixar's Inside Out 2. Last year, the kids dressed up in pink. This year, my daughter dressed up in yellow and my son in blue. For those who have seen the movie you will understand the reference. Last year, Barbie sparked conversations about gender roles and self-image. This year Inside Out 2, gave us the opportunity to talk about mental health and well-being.

For those not familiar with the movie, Inside Out is the story of a young girl named Riley and the emotions that live inside her mind: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust. The original film explores how these emotions affect Riley when her family moves to San Francisco, upending her delightful 11-year-old life in Minnesota.

In Inside Out 2, the story unfolds as Riley hits puberty, introducing new emotions like Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui (yes, I had to look that one up—it's a fancy word for boredom). These additions reflect the growing awareness of mental health issues among today's youth. The film's portrayal of Anxiety is particularly timely, given the rising rates of anxiety disorders in children and teens. We also meet Riley’s ‘sense of self’ and the thoughts that shape her belief system.

Without giving too much away, Inside Out 2 centers on Riley's experiences at hockey camp, where she is trying desperately to fit in and earn the approval of her coach and older teammates. Just before camp, her best friends announce they will be attending a different high school. This news sends Riley spiraling into a cascade of emotions. Anxiety, a twitchy fast-talking orange character, replaces Joy and now takes center stage in Riley's inner life.

Anxiety disrupts Riley's sense of self, creating a belief that she's "not good enough" and conjuring up negative scenarios about her future. It culminates in one of my favorite and most visceral scenes. Inside Riley’s mind, Anxiety spins around the console, pushing buttons so frantically that she whirls out of control. This visual representation masterfully depicts an anxiety attack, making it all too relatable for those who have experienced one.

Thankfully, Joy steps into Anxiety’s storm and delivers a pivotal line: “Let go,” a simplified but effective coping strategy. Anxiety complies, taking her hands off the console and admitting, “I was just trying to protect her,” showing us viewers all emotions, even those that cause distress, have a purpose. Pixar's genius shines through in how they portray this interaction. By having Joy help Anxiety, the film teaches a crucial lesson in emotional resilience– it isn't about controlling our feelings, but about recognizing their purpose and responding to them mindfully.

What makes Inside Out 2 remarkable is how it provides a lexicon for children to articulate what is going on in their inner worlds. Growing up in the throes of Texas, I didn't have the language to describe my feelings. This was partly due to how my family operated and partly because previous generations didn’t talk about feelings. Today, I strongly believe we have more insight. Artistic and educational contributions from Pixar, like Inside Out 2, acknowledge and embrace the complexity of our emotional lives. This film skillfully demystifies children's inner experiences and makes abstract concepts more tangible and easy to understand, which I dare say is crucial for emotional intelligence and well-being.

For parents, the film offers a valuable gift. It reminds us of the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence, a time when friends are the center of their universe and every interaction feels BIG. I, too, remember the overwhelm I felt with my friendships, school, and finding my place—all while battling stubborn acne. It was quite a mashup. Watching Inside Out 2 with my kids opened up conversations about their own experiences and it was nice to hear them relate to Riley– knowing they, too, aren't alone in their feelings.

So, grab your popcorn, snuggle up close, and get ready for a wild ride through the mind of a growing teen. You'll laugh, you'll empathize, and you might just find yourself understanding your own emotions a little better too.

Amanda Hyslop is rocking the mom life with two whip-smart kiddos, Sienna & William, and her hubby, Bill, who has a knack for dad jokes. By day, she's a go-to Advice Nurse at Tamalpais Pediatrics; by night, you'll find her playing the keys or hitting the pavement for a run. Amanda's all ears for your thoughts amandahyslop@gmail.com and will get back to you – just as soon as she locates that pesky missing sock!