Toy Story 2
"Toy Story 2" with the voices of Tom Hanks, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Annie Potts, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Tim Allen, Wallace Shawn and Wayne Knight. Written by John Lasseter and Peter Docter, directed by Ash Brannon and John Lasseter. MPAA rating G, run time a mere ninety minutes, if you don't count the two hours of credits.
It's refreshing enough to see a moovie that both kids and adults want to see, and it's exceptional to hear both kids and adults really enjoying themselves at a moovie. I have yet to talk to anyone who's seen "Toy Story 2" that hasn't had a blast watching it. The story is easy enough for kids to follow, but keeps adults' interest by playing a few emotional trump cards, and allowing the characters to prove themselves - the same devices that make any moovie worth watching.
Sheriff Woody, cowboy hero of the original "Toy Story" returns with the rest of his toy box buddies, but in an attempt to rescue his squeaky toy penguin pal Wheezy from a fate worse than death - a yard sale - Woody is discovered and captured by a toy retailer, minus his trademark TV commercial chicken suit, who realizes that Woody is a valuable original merchandising tie-in from a 50's TV marionette adventure serial, and that Woody completes his mint set and is his ticket to untold wealth.
That's the setup. The payoff is that the other toys mount a rescue mission to get Woody back. This toy safari, led by Buzz Lightyear, sets off into the real world to find Al's Toy Barn and Woody. There are the usual "Land of the Giants" sorts of difficulties, like navigating through a larger than life alien planet without ever being seen - they cease to be able to function as anything less than regular toys if someone sees them, you know. Crossing the street becomes an animation tour de force, the proof being that you're honestly wondering if they're going to make it.
But "Toy Story 2" reaches down a lot deeper than its predecessor. While Buzz Lightyear tries to come to terms with the existential nature of the fact that there are thousands of other Buzzes just like him staring down at him from the toy store shelves, Sheriff Woody tries to reconcile the fact that he is part of a legend, and has the power to either run and save his own hide, or by playing along and becoming a museum exhibit in Japan, prevent his TV show posse, Stinky Pete the Prospector and Jessie, the apple faced cowgirl from going back into storage - storage is, apparently, the worst thing that can happen to a toy - it's sooo dark. Injection-molded plastic altruism with a half twist.
Buzz Lightyear gets a reprise of his Galactic Warrior persona when a toy store Buzz gets involved in the rescue mission, and in the process, does battle with his evil nemesis, Zurg. Lasseter pays homage to Star Wars, as Buzz learns the truth about his own evil.
The Pixar team has developed a real sense of the characters in "Toy Story 2", and have allowed them to grow - Mr. Potato Head has become a domesticated potato, Rex the dinosaur is addicted to the Buzz Lightyear video game, and in trying to learn the secrets of the game, unknowingly holds the key to the rescue mission and the resolution of the moovie.
"Toy Story 2" is expertly written and acted. I do not use the term "acted" lightly. The combination of dynamite voice talent and the most expressive animation you've ever seen combine to create its own reality. If every moovie was as well concieved as "Toy Story 2", Adam Sandler would be parking cars in Pasadena. Don't believe it? Go see for yourself, and when the toys are navigating the air vents in Als' apartment building, close your eyes. They are as alive as any other actor, flesh and blood or otherwise.
Take your kids to see "Toy Story 2" if you absolutely have to, but if you can sneak out and see it without them, that works too. You'll have fun. I did.
Now the dilemna - do I give "Toy Story 2" four cows? I want to, but that snobby part of me doesn't want to admit that I liked "Toy Story 2" as much as "Ride With The Devil" or "Being John Malkovich". I'll make you a deal. I'll give "Toy Story 2" three cows, and I'll throw in an extra cow for Pixar's ability to entertain us without insulting, and for having a vision. Four it is.
It's refreshing enough to see a moovie that both kids and adults want to see, and it's exceptional to hear both kids and adults really enjoying themselves at a moovie. I have yet to talk to anyone who's seen "Toy Story 2" that hasn't had a blast watching it. The story is easy enough for kids to follow, but keeps adults' interest by playing a few emotional trump cards, and allowing the characters to prove themselves - the same devices that make any moovie worth watching.
Sheriff Woody, cowboy hero of the original "Toy Story" returns with the rest of his toy box buddies, but in an attempt to rescue his squeaky toy penguin pal Wheezy from a fate worse than death - a yard sale - Woody is discovered and captured by a toy retailer, minus his trademark TV commercial chicken suit, who realizes that Woody is a valuable original merchandising tie-in from a 50's TV marionette adventure serial, and that Woody completes his mint set and is his ticket to untold wealth.
That's the setup. The payoff is that the other toys mount a rescue mission to get Woody back. This toy safari, led by Buzz Lightyear, sets off into the real world to find Al's Toy Barn and Woody. There are the usual "Land of the Giants" sorts of difficulties, like navigating through a larger than life alien planet without ever being seen - they cease to be able to function as anything less than regular toys if someone sees them, you know. Crossing the street becomes an animation tour de force, the proof being that you're honestly wondering if they're going to make it.
But "Toy Story 2" reaches down a lot deeper than its predecessor. While Buzz Lightyear tries to come to terms with the existential nature of the fact that there are thousands of other Buzzes just like him staring down at him from the toy store shelves, Sheriff Woody tries to reconcile the fact that he is part of a legend, and has the power to either run and save his own hide, or by playing along and becoming a museum exhibit in Japan, prevent his TV show posse, Stinky Pete the Prospector and Jessie, the apple faced cowgirl from going back into storage - storage is, apparently, the worst thing that can happen to a toy - it's sooo dark. Injection-molded plastic altruism with a half twist.
Buzz Lightyear gets a reprise of his Galactic Warrior persona when a toy store Buzz gets involved in the rescue mission, and in the process, does battle with his evil nemesis, Zurg. Lasseter pays homage to Star Wars, as Buzz learns the truth about his own evil.
The Pixar team has developed a real sense of the characters in "Toy Story 2", and have allowed them to grow - Mr. Potato Head has become a domesticated potato, Rex the dinosaur is addicted to the Buzz Lightyear video game, and in trying to learn the secrets of the game, unknowingly holds the key to the rescue mission and the resolution of the moovie.
"Toy Story 2" is expertly written and acted. I do not use the term "acted" lightly. The combination of dynamite voice talent and the most expressive animation you've ever seen combine to create its own reality. If every moovie was as well concieved as "Toy Story 2", Adam Sandler would be parking cars in Pasadena. Don't believe it? Go see for yourself, and when the toys are navigating the air vents in Als' apartment building, close your eyes. They are as alive as any other actor, flesh and blood or otherwise.
Take your kids to see "Toy Story 2" if you absolutely have to, but if you can sneak out and see it without them, that works too. You'll have fun. I did.
Now the dilemna - do I give "Toy Story 2" four cows? I want to, but that snobby part of me doesn't want to admit that I liked "Toy Story 2" as much as "Ride With The Devil" or "Being John Malkovich". I'll make you a deal. I'll give "Toy Story 2" three cows, and I'll throw in an extra cow for Pixar's ability to entertain us without insulting, and for having a vision. Four it is.
