INSIDE OUT 2 is filled with highs and lows of emotion, and women’s hockey from the opening scene, including the voice of Kendall Coyne Schofield as a “hockey announcer.”
INSIDE OUT 2 is filled with highs and lows of emotion, and women’s hockey from the opening scene, including the voice of Kendall Coyne Schofield as a “hockey announcer.”
Disney and Pixar's INSIDE OUT 2 begins with Joy (Amy Poehler) shouting that it’s time to play hockey and excitedly welcoming the viewers to a Fog Horns’ hockey game, while one of the movie's driving forces thrusts the audience back into San Francisco, California and the world 13-year-old Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) is navigating.
The young hockey hopeful pulls off slick dekes and scores crisp goals in the film's opening minutes as her five emotions of Joy, Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Liza Lapira), Fear (Tony Hale), and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) guide her on the ice.
The opening sets the stage for a film showcasing Riley's desire to excel in the hockey world — on and off the ice.
The one-hour 36-minute runtime feels short with the emotion, action and laughs packed into the 96-minute viewing time as the audience embarks on a journey of learning how to deal with new and old emotions while trying to fit in.
Inside Out 2 brings the goofiness and charm felt in its original installment while forcing the audience to awkwardly sit through unbearable, cringeworthy scenes thanks to Riley's four new emotions: ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), envy (Ayo Edebiri), embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser) and Maya Hawke's standout performance of Anxiety.
The unbearable moments are purposeful and relatable, adding a sense of authenticity to the film.
The comedy mixes simple and smart jokes with dry humour sprinkled in. However, no character delivers more in its screentime than Bloofy's (Ron Funches) bag and companion, Baggy. The character provides genuine laugh-out-loud gags, especially during its back-and-forths with Anger.
Additionally, PWHL Minnesota's captain, Kendall Coyne Schofield, made her voice-acting debut, playing a "Hockey Announcer." While her lines were few and far between, it was nice to have professional women's hockey appear in a film focused on women's hockey.
Overall, Inside Out 2 is a fun, family movie with hints of teen comedy. The emotional storyline brings the audience from laugh-out-loud highs to tear-jerking lows.
While I would not go so far as to label it a "Hockey Movie," it is undoubtedly driven by hockey at its core. Inside Out 2 is an excellent watch for hockey-obsessed parents, children, or anyone wanting a fun summer night at the cinemas.