Divertida-Mente 2 (Inside Out 2)

Why is the sequel never the equal? Mostly because the surprise goes poof, along with the kick of originality. This followup to the animated Oscar-winning 2015 original can't do much about that, except deliver charm in sweet abundance. So why resist?

I got enough laughs out of the new emotions to essentially enjoy Inside Out 2. But although it's often charming and relatable, it's a letdown when you consider the heights such a project could reach.

A wonderfully clever sequel that ages up the concept with one dreaded word: Puberty. Whatever one's age, there's much to like in a movie that offers the requisite laughs and sweetness, while managing to feel quite profound.

Inside Out 2 grows with Riley, and by doing so, it shows its audience a spiritual mirror that reflects their own self-image. It's worth peering into. It's even more difficult to forget.

More poignant than an out-and-out tearjerker, the observations of Inside Out 2 may still get adults a little misty.

As in the first movie, the goal is to strive for balance, embrace complexity and learn to be OK with imperfection. I'm trying to do that myself with Inside Out 2, which, despite its many pleasures, is a pretty imperfect movie.

Pixar's most emotionally powerful movie of the past 15 years.

Sometimes you want a comfort watch, and Inside Out 2 is perfectly suited for that. Just don't expect all those emotions to hit the same way they did the first time around.

A pointedly funny and observant parable of teen angst that has a lot to say about the state of youth today.

Anxiety might not be pleasant, but as Inside Out 2 will remind both teenagers and their parents, that doesn't make it any less essential a part of growing up.

In further developing a daring conceit, the filmmakers create ever more opportunities for the whole thing to collapse on itself. They mostly keep things upright, but metaphors are strained near to the breaking point in the process.

The imagery is smart, but it has the feeling of an educational children's book. The movie's internal logic tests our own belief systems and fails to impart anything profoundly insightful to an adult audience.

Inside Out completely recontextualized Sadness in the most beautiful way, and now Inside Out 2 serves as an especially poignant reminder that all of our emotions and experiences, the good and bad, make us whole.

I particularly enjoyed the specter of anxiety turning into a whirlwind that just burns everything up...

There's plenty of invention at the granular level: the battle within the Projection Room is smart, the sar-chasm is funny, the stream of consciousness is cute. But the story is very much the same.

"Inside Out 2″ is serviceable entertainment. That's a sad thing to say about a Pixar film, especially when you consider they made classics like "Toy Story," "The Incredibles," and, well, the first "Inside Out."

There's something very ingenious about an animated film that explores the feelings we have in a way that is tangible, profound and educational.

A decidedly charming tale that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike and will no doubt spark interesting conversations among viewers who have been through similar situations. [Full review in Spanish]

Inside Out 2 expands the worlds of its characters to capture how our worlds get bigger with age. That, ideally, is what sequels can be for Pixar: a way to help guide young audiences through the turbulence of growing up.

I found it a worthy sequel. Just about as clever, moving, and enjoyable as the original film.