Toy Story 2 (1999) Review

The original ‘Toy Story’ from 1995 introduced us to a world where toys came to life and was superbly charming due to the strong, diverse cast of high-profile actors. ‘Toy Story 2’ picks up a few years after the original left off and answers the “what if Woody was stolen by a toy collector named Al” question that we all had. Woody unearths his identity when he discovers that he is the prized commodity in a set that derived from an old television show called Woody’s Roundup. He is united with what seemingly feels like old friends as Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack), Stinky Pete (voiced by Kelsey Grammar), and Bullseye have spent years waiting in anticipation for his arrival. Woody discovers that he is bound for life in a Japanese museum as Al plans on shipping them off for a large sum of money. Jessie, Stinky Pete, and Bullseye are threatened with an eternity in storage once they realize that Woody has no desire to stay with them. Woody then must fight through numerous obstacles in order to reunite with his owner and the rest of Andy’s toys.

A main character stumbles upon his secret identity and feels obligated to rekindle with his owner before it is too late? A similarly structured plot from the original film would lead you to believe that ‘Toy Story 2’ is purely a cash grab. Fortunately, plot is where this film exceeds expectations.

Where sequels may choose to embark its previously established characters on a meaningless journey that ultimately leads them back to the same place, ‘Toy Story 2’ decides to introduce new characters that offer new meaning and perspective to those toys we have come to adore. As the backstory of Woody’s historic television show is unraveled, so is the tale of Jessie’s previous owner. ‘Toy Story 2’ starts to discern what the role of a toy is in human life. Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all? Jessie explains to Woody that her owner outgrew her and how much she misses those play dates. Woody’s realization that he would rather be with Andy for his childhood and eventually outgrown than to be admired by strangers in a museum forever was touching on a personal level.

Tim Allen was asked to play an evil version of Buzz and often had to argue intensely with himself. While on paper it may seem a bit trite, Tim Allen keeps himself from becoming overly exuberant and refuses to take himself seriously. Buzz’s confrontation with a version of himself that believed he was a space ranger exemplified his character growth and meant more than an effortless gag.

Movie references are prominent in this film and appropriately conveyed as they were noticed by myself as a naive child and more appreciated now that I am older. Humor whether its emanated from an allusion to Star Wars, adult material, or slapstick; the chuckles are genuine and deserved.

This movie leaves a lot to be desired visually as its outdoor sequences really put the lack of ability behind computer generated graphics at the time underneath a spotlight. While the original Toy Story had its lack of pictorial detail, they steered clear of human expression unless it was unavoidable. The main characters themselves look more defined, but closer inspection towards human life wandering in the background highlight Pixar’s limited capacity in graphical power at the time.

‘Toy Story 2’ continues its ambitious journey to bridge the gap between animation and reality with another gratifying adventure. While a handful of amusing, new characters are introduced, the toys we all know, and love are simultaneously given more life. ‘Toy Story 2’ is a marvelous example of a sequel that builds proudly on its predecessor and offers value to the cinematic universe that John Lasseter set out to create.

Final Score: 8/10

‘Toy Story 2’ is further proof that “sequelitis” stems from a lack of foresight and can be comfortably avoided through the creation of dynamic characters in a flexible environment. Not to mention that the premise for this film was constructed eight or nine years before the film was first released.