‘Inside Out 2’ is an average Pixar movie. That’s not such a bad thing.

Disney-Pixar sequel "Inside Out 2" doesn't match the original, but it's still an enjoyable movie for the whole family.

Amy Poehler as Joy and Maya Hawke as Anxiety in the Disney-Pixar movie "Inside Out 2." Disney-Pixar

June 12, 2024

The release of “Inside Out 2” comes at a pivotal moment for Pixar, the Disney-owned animation studio that has long been synonymous with excellence. The pandemic meant that quality movies like “Luca,” “Soul,” and “Turning Red” got lost in the Disney+ library, and Pixar’s two most recent theatrical releases, “Lightyear” and “Elemental,” are some of the worst the studio has ever produced.

Based on what Pixar’s president is saying about the studio’s future — more movies, more sequels — it makes sense to release a follow-up to 2015’s popular “Inside Out.”

There’s a lot to like about the sequel, including its very realistic, very funny portrayal of middle school insecurity. Director Kelsey Mann also squeezes in plenty of broadly comic material, which was a hit with the children sitting next to me. Ultimately, “Inside Out 2” doesn’t quite capture the magic of the original, but it’s still an enjoyable 90 minutes at the movies.

“Inside Out 2” takes us inside the mind of Riley, the young girl from the first film who is now on the precipice of entering high school. Initially, the same five emotions are in charge of Riley’s brain, with Joy, voiced by Burlington native Amy Poehler, acting as the de facto leader.

The first “Inside Out” was about Joy learning the importance of letting Riley feel all of her other emotions: Fear, Anger, Disgust, and particularly Sadness. But when puberty rears its ugly head, a new batch of emotions show up — Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui.

Voiced by Maya Hawke, Anxiety is initially somewhat content to play a supporting role. But after Joy’s unbridled enthusiasm makes Riley seem uncool to the older girls at her hockey camp, Anxiety quickly takes over, forcing the original five emotions to journey deep into the recesses of Riley’s mind to rediscover her core beliefs.

Hawke plays Anxiety perfectly, with a mix of overbearing people-pleasing and constant fear of failure. One scene, in which Anxiety directs Riley’s dream team to illustrate every possible negative outcome of Riley’s big hockey tryout as she tries to fall asleep, hits particularly close to home.

Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, meets the other Emotions in "Inside Out 2." — Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, meets the other Emotions in “Inside Out 2.” *– Disney-Pixar*

Some of the other emotions, however, fail to have the same impact. Envy, voiced by Dorchester native Ayo Edebiri, is very funny, but doesn’t really embody jealousy at all. Embarrassment, played in a mostly non-verbal performance by Paul Walter Hauser, barely registers. And Fear (Tony Hale), which already had the least to do in the original film, feels superfluous with Anxiety running the show.

With Joy and the other OG emotions busy traipsing through parts unknown, “Inside Out 2” dials up the kid-friendly material. Parodies of children’s TV characters like Bloofy (a Blues Clues/Dora the Explorer riff) and Pouchy (a talking fanny pack) are welcome diversions. But because the depths of Riley’s anthropomorphized mind were already built out so beautifully in “Inside Out,” the aimed-at-adults puns — a literal “stream of consciousness,” a canyon known as a “sar-chasm” — feel like retreads, even when they’re not.

Sadness (Phyllis Smith) and Joy (Amy Poehler) explore Riley's Sense of Self in "Inside Out 2." — Sadness (Phyllis Smith) and Joy (Amy Poehler) explore Riley’s Sense of Self in “Inside Out 2.” *– Disney-Pixar*

Mann faces a delicate balancing act, trying to maintain enough goofs and gags to entertain the kids while properly exploring the intricacies of teen angst. Some of the most trenchant material comes as Anxiety puts Riley in increasingly uncomfortable situations, whether it’s socializing with the older kids at hockey camp or snubbing her best friends. At certain points in the film, every cut back to Joy and co.’s journey feels unwelcome.

The worst of Pixar’s films would still rank among the best of most other animation studios, so calling “Inside Out 2” a middle-tier Pixar isn’t the worst thing in the world. The studio remains unmatched in its ability to tell a powerful, complex story that resonates with children and adults alike.

Watching “Inside Out 2,” you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll squirm in discomfort when anxiety takes over. It may fall a bit short of the original, but it still packs an emotional punch.

Rating: 2 ½ stars (out of 4)

“Inside Out 2” will be released in theaters June 14.