Inside Out 2

In cinemas now

It’s difficult not to approach this sequel to Pete Docter’s outstanding Inside Out without cynicism, given that it was announced as part of a ploy to boost Pixar’s profits. Its predecessor worked so well as a standalone feature that a continuation of its story doesn’t feel necessary, at least beyond being an excuse to reunite with memorable characters such as Joy (Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith).

Still, if you choose not to ponder whether Inside Out 2 ought to exist, you can enjoy a serviceable follow-up that introduces entertaining new characters (of which Maya Hawke’s Anxiety is the standout) and builds on the themes of the first film, albeit without breaking new ground. To the credit of first-time director Kelsey Mann, Docter’s absence is not felt too keenly, with the film retaining the witty humour of the previous instalment, although original co-writer Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein’s screenplay frustratingly opts to cautiously retread old motifs.

Nonetheless, there is enough good intention in Mann’s film - particularly in its depiction of complex and increasingly prevalent emotions such as anxiety - to make it worth the price of entry, as evidenced by its mightily impressive box office returns.