Weekend Watch: Inside Out 2, House Of The Dragon Season 2

Pixar finds all the feels again and it's war in Westeros

Image Credit: Walt Disney Pictures

Welcome to the latest edition of Weekend Watch, where I recommend (or occasionally warn against) movies or TV shows I’ve been checking out. This week, Pixar is feeling emotional again and the Targaryens are at war. Follow James on Twitter: @jamwhite and Threads/Instagram: @jammerwhite

Though the studio has had some stumbles of late (Lightyear seriously underperformed despite its Toy Story connections and original concoction Elemental struggled initially until it found its feet with audiences), I still have faith in Pixar as a font of creativity. And this latest effort, even though it’s a sequel, only confirms that.

Inside Out 2 was always going to result in mixed feelings from me –– the original is one of my favourites of the company’s films (framed concept art featuring Amy Poehler’s Joy hangs above my desk). So, to have it revisited, and not by Pete Docter (who is admittedly a little busy running the whole company), gave me pause.

I needn’t have worried. For while this follow-up doesn’t quite hit the same emotional heights as the original, Inside Out 2 is an inventive, funny, and smart further exploration of the story with some memorable new characters.

The story finds the foundational emotions of young Riley (Kensington Tallman) all settled into their roles. Joy wrangles Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale, replacing Bill Hader), Disgust (Liza Lapira substituting for Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) to keep their human charge on an even keel. But as Riley turns 13, a blaring puberty alarm on the control panel in her mind rudely awakens them to the concept that things are about to change in a big way.

The control room is soon being demolished and expanded, and a brand-new batch of emotions –– Maya Hawke’s Anxiety, Ayo Edebiri’s Envy, Adèle Exarchopoulos’ Ennui and Paul Walter Hauser’s Embarrassment –– arrive. While Joy initially welcomes the newcomers, Anxiety feels she can do a better job of guiding Riley through her newly teenage life’s challenges (doing well enough at hockey to earn the respect of a high school team, meeting new friends once she learns that her old besties won’t be going to the same school as her). Soon, Joy and the rest are literally bottled up and sent to the back of Riley’s mind.

Naturally, Joy and co. must find their way back, and also restore Riley’s sense of self, which has been junked by the swirl of new emotional currents.

Under director Kelsey Mann, returning scriptwriter Meg LeFauve and new collaborator Dave Holstein, Inside Out 2 proves to be a good match to the original film’s energy and sheer level of thoughtfulness when it comes to the brain (probably my favourite reference is the sar-chasm that opens up as a literal canyon whose echoes sound like the speaker is making fun of whoever hears them). The jokes land and the new characters all bring something fresh to the story.

Hawke’s Anxiety, who becomes the antagonist of the movie (though only because she truly feels she knows what Riley needs) is a quirky delight, but the show is really stolen by Exarchopoulos’ moody, phone-obsessed Ennui and the endlessly shy Embarrassment (even though Paul Walter Hauser only gets a couple of lines). But that’s not at the cost of the original group, since Poehler is typically wonderful as Joy and Smith brings new layers to Sadness. While Anger and Fear are still smaller roles, their moments land.

And kudos to all involved for other new concepts, not the least of which is Bloofy (Ron Funches), the fourth wall-breaking cartoon character drawn from one of Riley’s old favourite shows. He’s always good value, and his associate Pouchy (James Austin Johnson) plays a key role later in the story.

Inside Out 2 is utterly captivating, charming and entertaining, and even if it doesn’t rise to the same instant classic level of the first film, it’s not far off. Kids, prepare your parents ––there will be recognition. And tears.

Inside Out 2 is in UK and US cinemas now.

Image Credit: HBO

Though I mostly enjoyed House Of The Dragon’s first season, I couldn’t help the creeping feeling that it mostly existed to keep the Game Of Thrones audience satiated and interested.

It became more interesting and took on some of its own personality as it went on, but I never quite engaged with it the way I did with the Starks and the rest from the parent series.

The initial two episodes of Season Two have done little to change my mind: it’s entertaining, but never really steps clear of Thrones’ long shadow. Yes, while even that series couldn’t stick the landing, House’s narrower focus is both a blessing and a curse.

With the death of Paddy Considine’s King Viserys, one of the more compelling characters is gone, leaving a void that is filled –– with different degrees of success by his wife Alicent (Olivia Cooke), who believes one of her sons should be on the throne and daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), who has her own claim.

As Season One closed, events had tipped towards all-out war between the two sides, and while major combat has yet to kick off, there are tit-for-tat slayings causing major friction. Though the sex has been dialled down for now, the violence levels remain high and there is a healthy amount of dragons to be found soaring through the skies.

Still, while Cooke and D’Arcy remain very watchable in their roles, and Matt Smith still steals scenes as Rhaenyra’s uncle, Prince Daemon. The rest? They’re fine, though few make a big impact.

I’m still intrigued enough to keep watching and see where the storyline goes, but Dragon still hasn’t found the same level as its predecessor for me.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 starts with its first episode on HBO/Max in the US and Sky/Now in the UK on Sunday 16 June. I’ve seen the first two episodes.