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It was a solid week for new releases, including my favorite animated film of the year. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734. 

Brats (Hulu)
Synopsis: From Andrew McCarthy, this new documentary takes a look at the infamous Brat Pack. The film features interviews with the members as they look back at the title that branded them and helped define some of their career. As a member of the group, McCarthy brings a unique perspective. Often the interviews, with actors such as Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Timothy Hutton, and Demi Moore, among others, feels more like old friends catching up. There’s a sweetness and a lightness to the documentary that is incredibly appealing. The film does a good job of capturing the highs and lows, and helping these actors and actresses give an account of what the pressure of that time—and these high-profile films—meant in their lives and their careers. As a child of the 1980s, I was fascinating by the documentary, and I really enjoyed the journey of discovery that McCarthy brings us on. This documentary is about 90 minutes and is now streaming on Hulu.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Inside Out 2 (Theaters)
Starring: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Phyllis Smith, and Ayo Edibri
Synopsis: Growing up and finding our authentic self is a process. We have forces both from outside and from within that are vying for control, and sometimes the voices inside our head can derail our best intentions. The makers of Inside Out 2, the sequel to the 2015 Pixar film, clearly understand that. And they convey that journey in a richly satisfying way that helps it surpass the original. It’s been nine years since the first film took us inside the head of Riley. Now, this sequel, picks up with Riley at age 13 and on the cusp of a very big change. After a brief recap, our old friends Joy (Poehler), Disgust (Liza Lapira), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale), and Sadness (Smith) are ready to take charge. Riley, on the cusp of high school, is invited to take part in a hockey camp. It’s a chance for her and her friends to make an impression on the high school coach and make the team as freshmen. But, along the way, something strange happens. First, Riley’s control center begins to change. Next, her friends tell her they’re going to a different high school. And, as if that wasn’t already a lot for the existing emotions, four new friends arrive. Riley’s newest emotions—a result of puberty—include Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulous), Envy (Edibri), and Anxiety (Hawke). And these four seem to take charge from the jump, especially Anxiety. When Anxiety and Joy are at odds on the direction to go, Anxiety takes the reigns, removing Riley’s authentic self and bottling up her old emotions, burying them deep in her memory vault. Can Joy and the gang break free and help Riley embrace her true self before it’s too late? This film comes from writers Meg LaFauve, Dave Holstein, and Kelsey Mann, the later of whom directed the film. It returns most of the voice cast from the original and adds to the story of Riley’s inner life in a beautiful and profound way. The process of finding ourselves, learning to overcome our fears, embrace sadness and joy, live with our less than perfect memories, and choke down anxiety is part of the journey for everyone. Sometimes it’s a fraught journey, particularly during those teen years when the voice inside our head can be really loud and really scary. But it’s a continual journey that we take throughout our lives. The best Pixar movies have that emotional core that gets to the heart of part of what it means to live our lives, and they resonate strongly with audiences of all ages, particularly adults. There’s plenty in this film that will appeal to kids and teens, but it had an emotional resonance that was nothing short of beautiful. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of Toy Story 3, which for me remains one of the best Pixar films. This is a beautiful, emotional journey, and a film that for me surpasses the original. I loved Inside Out 2. I laughed, I cried, and I was deeply fulfilled. It’s my favorite animated film of the year, and one worthy of seeking out in theaters.
Rating: Rated PG for some thematic elements.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

Ultraman: Rising (Netflix)
Starring: Christopher Sean, Hiro Nakamura, and Tamlyn Tomita
Synopsis: This is the latest release from Netflix, an animated film that’s part of a long-running Ultraman franchise from Japan. This is, in fact, the 44th film in the franchise. But if you, like me, know nothing about Ultraman going in, this will still work fine for you. It focuses mostly on a family. As a child, Ken Sato (Sean) grew up dreaming of playing baseball and/or being Ultraman, a hero who helps safeguard citizens from the Kaiju roaming the earth. But, more than 20 years later, Ken is focused simply on baseball. He’s an All-Star for the Dodgers, living with his mother in Los Angeles when his father (Gedde Watanabe) calls for his help. Ken transfers to a Japanese team, but it’s really a ruse. His father is Ultraman, or was, and now needs Ken to carry on the mantle. But will it be too much for him? This, as I mentioned, was my first introduction to the world. And what an introduction it is. This is a fun, layered animated film with good action, a compelling story, and some fun characters. I loved the idea and the production here, along with the animated style. But it’s the story that pulled me in and kept me hooked. I wasn’t expecting a lot, but this was the second animated film this week that really jumped out and grabbed me. It’s worth making a point to seek out on Netflix!
Rating: Rated PG for sequences of violence/action, some language, rude humor and thematic elements.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five