Anxiety rules in ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Quiet Place: Day One’

(July 16, 2024) — Back in 2015, in my first year of reviewing movies for the Pioneer, I saw “Inside Out” with my swim team that June.

In my review, I posited that “no other film company consistently produces films that 7-year olds, teenagers and adults of all ages can all thoroughly enjoy, albeit often for different reasons.” It is still the only movie I have rated as an A+.

Even with some tough competition, it remains the best animated film from this century. But this year’s sequel, “Inside Out 2,” comes as close as possible to equaling its predecessor.

With most of Pixar’s sequels, the time jump in the story equals the length between each film. Watching Andy go from young believer to heading off for college was quite the powerful storyline from “Toy Story” to “Toy Story 3.” Instead, “Inside Out 2” chooses to only jump about a year or so from the first film – keeping Riley as an adolescent. No one wants to watch a film about what’s going on inside the head of a twentysomething.

Riley is a happy middle schooler, loving hockey and her two best friends. Her emotions are familiar: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, Disgust. But when a summertime hockey camp presents itself, Riley is beset by newly conflicted feelings. How will this affect her upcoming high school life? Should she choose new friends over old ones? What if I don’t make the team?

For most children under 12, the main five emotions will suffice in nearly every situation. However, when faced with these novel life obstacles, new emotions emerge: Anxiety, Ennui (boredom), Embarrassment and Envy. Nostalgia makes a couple of choice appearances; the rest of the emotions shout for her to come back much later.

Having gone through teenage life, we can all attest to how much anxiety takes over. In fact, we never stop having to deal with anxiety. Voiced impeccably by Maya Hawke, the film portrays Anxiety as the villain. Sending Riley into situations that Joy and the original emotions would never dream of, Anxiety is actually only trying to help Riley prepare for the next phase of life. The film sprinkles Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment in amounts that leave you wanting more.

Once we become teenagers, our sense of joy dulls – likely never to return to the levels of our youth. Likewise, if we want to fit in, fear, sadness, disgust and anger must take a backseat. Anxiety banishes the five original emotions to the far reaches of Riley’s mind. The rest of the film finds them searching for a way back before the hockey camp is over and she makes life-altering decisions.

“Inside Out 2” needed its predecessor to function on the level it does. However, it stands on its own as a crowning achievement in the long line of Pixar films. A

‘Day One’ surprises yet satisfies

Summer is the time for sequels, and in the case of “A Quiet Place: Day One,” a prequel.

The film rewinds back to the initial alien invasion to mine some more scares. Despite a misleading subtitle, this is a third quality entry in the series.

Anything with the words “Day One” in it should probably stick to setup and world-building. Thus, I expected this film to explain why and how the aliens found earth, what we did to prevent it and how different places dealt with the initial invasion. However, I was not disappointed upon discovering the story it chose to tell instead.

Sam (Lupita Nyong’o) is in a New York hospice facility, dealing with people much older than her while suffering the same eventual fate. She writes sarcastic poems and spends time with her cat, Frodo, as her way of coping.

Begrudgingly out in the city for a puppet show, Sam becomes aware of something catastrophic happening. The aliens are arriving and wiping out people in droves. After a brief foray out in the streets, Sam finds herself back in the theater with Frodo and her nurse, Reuben (Alex Wolff).

Much like in the first film, people quickly figure out the aliens cannot see but have ultra-sensitive hearing. Make very little noise, and you will likely be OK.

Sam spends the remainder of the film trying to get to Patsy’s Pizza. She’s wanted a slice since being promised one on their daytrip, and it gives her life a sense of present purpose. She knows she (and likely millions of others) do not have a future. The past is long gone; the present is all there is.

She eventually meets a fraidy-cat Brit named Eric (Joseph Quinn, Eddie from “Strangers Things”). They empower each other to continue on, finding time near falling water or loud thunder to have meaningful – and vocal – conversations. Since this is a horror movie, they also get into some harrowing situations.

I should mention that I drove to the Dublin Regal Hacienda theaters to see this film in 4DX. I rather liked the technology for “Kingdom of Planet of the Apes” and enjoyed it again this time around. It certainly heightened jump scares and suspenseful situations in “Quiet Place: Day One.” There was less jerky seat movement, but also less smooth seat tipping during camera moves and pans.

The acting was phenomenal in the film, but the true stars of the film are the two cats who took turns playing Frodo. There were times when I could not believe a cat would remain so calm and quiet during all the aliens and abject chaos. At the same time, I could not believe a cat (cats) could act so well!

Even though they are always trained, animals are notoriously difficult to include in films. However, director Michael Sarnoski (“Pig”) found the perfect pair of felines.

These films keep making money. And with a video game coming soon, there are sure to be more films down the road. They are well-made and a nice summer distraction. B+