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Inside Out 2
Movie

Inside Out 2

2024 • Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Woke Score
2
out of 10

Plot

A sequel that features Riley entering puberty and experiencing brand new, more complex emotions as a result. As Riley tries to adapt to her teenage years, her old emotions try to adapt to the possibility of being replaced.

Overall Series Review

Inside Out 2 explores the universal experience of a young girl, Riley, entering puberty as new, complex emotions like Anxiety and Envy take over her 'Headquarters' and challenge the original crew of Joy, Sadness, and Anger. The plot focuses on Riley’s struggle to adapt to teenage life, specifically navigating a high school hockey camp and the desire to fit in with an older crowd. The new emotions attempt to create a perfect, anxiety-free 'Sense of Self' by suppressing the core memories and belief system established by the original emotions. The film's message centers on the importance of integrating all emotions, both good and bad, to form a complete and complex self, promoting themes of self-acceptance, repentance, and forgiveness. The story remains tightly focused on psychological development and the internal mindscape, keeping the narrative divorced from external political or social lecturing.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The movie's conflict is entirely focused on a universal internal psychological process: the onset of puberty and complex emotions. Characters are defined purely by the emotion they represent. The narrative never uses race, identity group, or intersectional hierarchy as a factor in the plot or the characters' worth. Meritocracy is a theme within Riley’s mind, as the emotions argue over which is best equipped to guide her actions.

Oikophobia1/10

The film does not criticize Western civilization, family structures, or American culture. Riley is a competitive hockey player, and the family is portrayed as loving and functional, with the father and mother showing support for their daughter. Institutions like family and friendship are seen as positive structures that help Riley navigate her emotional struggles.

Feminism3/10

The main human protagonist is a girl, Riley, and the majority of the primary emotions are female (Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anxiety, Envy). The story centers the female experience of adolescence and emotional complexity. This representation, while celebratory of a girl's inner life, avoids the 'Girl Boss' trope, as Riley’s core journey is about her deep struggle and imperfection (Anxiety taking over). Male emotions (Anger, Fear, Embarrassment) are present but take supporting roles, yet they are not actively demonized or portrayed as bumbling idiots.

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative remains focused on the universal emotional changes of puberty rather than sexual or gender identity. The conflict does not center on alternative sexualities, nor does it contain explicit messaging or lecturing on gender theory. The structure is normative, focusing on the traditional growth period of a 13-year-old girl.

Anti-Theism2/10

The core of the plot is Riley developing a 'Sense of Self' and belief system through the integration of all her emotions. The film promotes the value of kindness, friendship, repentance, and forgiveness, suggesting an underlying structure of objective moral truth about the nature of the self. Traditional faith or religion is neither the villain nor the subject of attack. The morality is transcendent, rooted in the acceptance of one's whole self.