The Joy of the Lord Drives INSIDE OUT 2
By Dr. Ted Baehr, Publisher
Recently, I attended a beautiful reception for the filmmakers and stars of the most successful animated family movie of the year, INSIDE OUT 2.
Producer Mark Nielsen, who’s been to several Movieguide® Awards and loves Movieguide®, discussed with me that he was a Christian and therefore intentionally made INSIDE OUT 2 to be a positive, uplifting faith-filled family movie. As a result, it turned around the recent losing streak of Pixar movies and returned to the winning formula of his last big Pixar movie, TOY STORY 4.
Mark introduced me to the director, Kelsey Mann, who also told me he wants to continue making movies for the big family audience. Screenwriter Meg Lefauve said her husband was a very strong Christian and that the movie’s Christian themes were important to its success.
All of these very successful Hollywood filmmakers want to come to the Movieguide® Awards on Feb. 7, in Hollywood. By the way, INSIDE OUT 2 has made close to $2 billion at the worldwide box office, proving once again that faith and family movies succeed.
INSIDE OUT 2 is delightful, funny, inventive, and heartwarming. It has many positive messages. For example, it promotes doing the right thing, keeping your emotions under control and not letting your anxieties overcome your decision making. Another nice message is the movie’s conclusion that it’s not good for people to focus only on their good memories or only on their bad memories, because both can provide valuable lessons. Also, various scenes promote repentance, forgiveness, humility, friendship, and kindness. The movie also reminds its young viewers not to forget their old friends even when they’re making new friends. The story has wonderful visual and non-visual ways to illustrate these messages and themes.
Finally, last but certainly not least, INSIDE OUT 2 helps us understand the Scripture that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10c). For example, the Joy character in the story has a great character arc. She goes from control to crying out for help (which suggests prayer), to helping Riley repent and seek forgiveness. Also, the movie’s messages about controlling our emotions and not letting one emotion overwhelm us has some biblical precedents. For instance, Jesus says don’t judge other people without first applying the same standard toward yourself. He also commands us to make “righteous” judgments. In addition, Jesus often tells his listeners to “fear not” and don’t be anxious but rely on Him and God’s provision. Thus, in the end, Joy overcomes Anxiety in INSIDE OUT 2.
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