Let’s come down to reality for a moment. When I prepared to watch Inside Out 2, I had a certain amount of expectations: Riley’s emotions would be flaring, there would be some entertaining new faces, and I would probably shed a few tears in the final moments. But to my surprise, I didn’t anticipate seeing my self embarrassingly reflecting in the Inside Out 2 glued to phone scene.
You know the scene I’m talking about. Riley and her friends are lounging, staring at their devices, and are completely absorbed in their own world. Society has conditioned us to believe such behavior is perfectly normal, but, in reality, it is the opposite. As a moviegoer, I am embarrassed to admit that I relate to this while I, “Ouch… that’s me at dinner last night,”.
While this is humorous, it has a more serious meaning. Pixar’s every animation has has a meaning behind it, and this is no exception. All Pixar films, and Inside Out 2 in this case, are filled with intricate scenes that weave the narrative together.
That Scene, In Case You Blinked – Inside Out 2 Glued to Phone
To put this in more simple terms, the glued to phone scene from Inside Out 2 is one of those scenes that has terrific concepts, but the execution did not do it justice.
Let’s begin with describing that moment: Riley, in a hang out session with her friends, and out of the blue, staring at her phone. It would be an understatement to say her friends are also zoning out in their phones. They are completely off, together but not together
And it is precisely that attention to detail that evokes such a visceral reaction. The slouching, evasive murmurs, a micro chuckle in reaction to something only they perceive. Doesn’t matter whether you’re 15 or 55, in a social setting, almost all of one’s energy is devoted to a screen.
Heard you, and for a moment, I felt somewhat recognized too.
Why Pixar Even Put It In
Pixar is not the type of studio to add a lame gag in the inside out 2 glued to phones scene. For them everything has and must be important. Therefore the question is, why was glued to phone scene included inside 2.
The glued to phones scene incorporated in the movie depicts a part of life. As for the parents and kids, phones are not something extra anymore. For them they are everything. To mix things up for Riley who must manage Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui, her phone becomes escape and the box tightly compressing her feelings all together.
The movie does not blame the phone to be terrible for overwatch. It explains how the devices help entwine emotions. Phones manage to distract us, temporarily provide relief, and in rare instances do inflict pain.
Doesn’t it tend to feel that way in our everyday lives?
The Layers Under the Laugh
Let’s get deeper. What do you think the glued to phone moment in Inside Out 2 is about?
Distracted. The emotions that Riley is feeling are too much. Rather than sitting in the silence or dealing with what is bothering her, she chooses to scroll.
Connection and disconnection. It’s a paradox that phones connect us to everyone, but in that specific scene, it showcases the extent to which Riley is feeling disconnected from the people sitting beside her.
Teen Trends. If you know a teenager (or are one), you know this is just… routine now. Not hyperbolic. Just your average Tuesday.
It’s not subtle. It’s tight and clean. But it strikes the mark.
Why We All Saw Ourselves
As to why the glued to phone moment in Inside Out 2 resonated with so many people, the answer is: relatability.
Parents in the theater shared in the laughter, capturing the moment with a knowing glance. Teens probably rolled their eyes while saying, “Yup, that’s me.” And the adults? We are not exempt. I’ve certainly killed a few conversations with the “Let me check just one thing real quick.” (Infamous last words, right?)
That’s the best part. Pixar managed to reflect our flaws while making us laugh.
Pixar’s Subtle Genius
What makes it work is not only the precision. It is the absence of sound. No over-the-top score. No one remarking, “Wow, we are glued to our phones!” Thank goodness for that.
It is easy to overlook the detail, and that is the goal. No one in real life is announcing the fact that someone is being ignored and the interaction being scroll-checked. It occurs. Gradually. Silently. And, in the blink of an eye, sixty seconds have magically turned into an hour.
How Phones Tie Into Riley’s Emotions
This is where it becomes interesting. The Inside Out 2 glued to phone shot is clever as it connects to the new emotions that have been introduced in the movie.
- Anxiety → the phone scrolling triggers an endless stream of “what ifs”.
- Envy → witnessing peers or strangers engaging in activities “better, cooler, or faster”.
- Embarrassment → the device chronicling every embarrassing moment.
- Ennui → scrolling to stave off the boredom, shattered silence.
The rest of that moment, for the most part, builds a foundation for how emotions relate to contemporary existence. Lacking the phone, the emotions would still be present, however with the phone? They strike more forcefully.
My Takeaway (and Probably Yours Too)
This one makes me blush. Immediately exiting the cinema, I turned to… phone. Check. Uh oh.
That portion of Inside Out 2 where Riley and her friends are glued to their phones struck me. Now, whenever I zone out during conversations over dinner, I imagine Riley and her friends. While I certainly haven’t changed my phone habits (I’m still scrolling through Instagram as much as ever), I am now hearing a little Pixar voice reminding me that looking up, and taking a break, is important.
That is what Pixar achieves better than any other studio. Unobtrusively, they sneak into your daily habits.
Why This Scene Matters More Than You Think
The glued-to-phone moment in Inside Out 2 is a quick laugh for much of the audience, but, in truth, captures the intersection of emotions and technology for teens and adults today. Serving as a grim reminder, being glued to a phone is not a meaningless act. More often than not, it is a means to escape from something much more profound.
The fact that Pixar chose not to over explain it is what underscores their brilliance. They trusted the audience to get it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Inside Out 2 Glued to Phone Scene
Q: What is the reason behind Riley being glued to her phone in Inside Out 2?
Phones serve as emotional tools and crutches. They provide a form of distraction, which is epitomized in the Inside Out 2 glued to phone scene. This is a reality of how today’s adolescents function in their daily life.
Q: Were teens being made fun of by Pixar?
The Inside Out 2 glued to phone moment is not a roast; it is a reflection. Rather, it is an examination of life today, and while it may not be flattering, it is a truthful account.
Q: Is Riley’s new emotions tied to the scene?
The Inside Out 2 glued to phone gag connects directly to Riley’s new emotions of Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment. It integrates how those feelings are manifested through various commonplace and daily activities.
Q: Why do you think the audience laughed so hard at that segment?
The shared experience of being physically present in a space but not mentally engaged in it is relatable. Everyone has experienced the Inside Out 2 glued to phone phenomenon.
Q: What is the big underlying message?
How unreliability of focus is in the Inside Out 2 glued to phone scene. From attention being a commodity that can so easily be taken away without the user noticing.
Final Thought
Sure, it’s brief and understated, but the glued to the phone moment in Inside Out 2 may just capture the attention of the viewer in an incredibly relatable way. It goes beyond the argument of technology’s negative effects; the scene demonstrates the complicated intersection of emotion, identity, and attention in relation to our devices.
And if Pixar is able to embed that kind of insight into a five-second joke, it is easy to see why they remain the best in the business.
