Riley’s Emotions help build her personality in “Inside Out,” but their work is in danger of being totally wiped out in the sequel. Puberty hits Riley like a wrecking ball — literally. A red alarm button blares, and an entire wrecking crew of Mind Workers hits Riley’s emotional scene, smashing through the walls surrounding Joy, Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale), and the other Emotions. The workers refer to this as “Demo Day,” which is presumably short for “Demolition Day” in the world of Riley’s emotions.
While younger viewers might find this funny and drastic, older ones who have lived through the trauma-bomb of puberty will recognize how, seemingly, everything changes overnight. The demolition team clears the way for Riley to go from sweet to sassy and freshly insecure, not to mention super sweaty. Riley is at a loss with her sudden inexplicable mood swings and acts of social desperation, and her parents are blindsided.
Riley’s Mom (Diane Lane) and Dad (Kyle MacLachlan) aren’t in much of “Inside Out 2,” but their scenes showcase the bittersweet nature of watching your child become a teenager. While they try to care for her the best they can, they can’t help but embarrass Riley with their every move. Many adult viewers will no doubt notice that there’s a look of loss on their faces every time Riley snaps at them. Even child-free grown-ups might feel the burn of puberty past while watching Riley. Sure, puberty clears the way for a new self to emerge, but it also leaves so much destruction in its path.
