Inside Out 2 takes pretty much the exact same formula as the original and applies to a tween year, specifically focusing on the impact of anxiety. The novelty of the idea isn't as fresh in this movie, reflected in a lot fewer clever psychology puns and metaphors. In general, the humor doesn't seem to land much, and part of that is that this movie is about anxiety, teenage years, and to some extent, puberty, yet the market for the movie is far more oriented towards younger kids. While I think it could have handled some more emotions, specifically around puberty and being a teenager, I think it manages to capture anxiety pretty well. Even if the innovativeness and humor are not as sharp this time around, the emotional pathos is still fantastic, hitting the right notes and leading into a cathartic message that feels wholesome (albeit a bit too easy). I found this to resonate really well with my own experiences, and it was a compelling movie because of this central theme that is able to iterate so well on the original concept while still exploring another complex emotion. Inside Out might be my favorite Pixar movie, and this doesn't hit all the same highs as that one; however, it's definitely a lot better than a Disney sequel had any right to be.