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Movie Review: 'Toy Story 2' Hilarious sequel plays on success of first 'Toy Story' Wednesday, November 24, 1999 By Scott Mervis, Weekend Editor, Post-Gazette
On the list of things to be thankful for this week -- mom, apple pie, indoor plumbing -- let's add Pixar. In the wake of that dreadful Pokémon affair, the animation studio has given kids and parents reason to rejoice about returning to movie theaters.
Welcome back, Buzz and Woody! And Hamm, Rex and Potato Head!
The stars of "Toy Story," the first fully computer-animated feature, looked like nothing short of a miracle on celluloid back in 1995. It took all of one knockout opening scene to realize that "Toy Story 2" was not only going to match it, but take it to infinity and ... beyond.
"Toy Story 2" offers more than just amazing eye candy, a wild, witty script, thrilling action scenes and a heartwarming message. The beauty of this sequel is in the familiarity of the characters, who have grown in stature in the bedrooms of millions of kids over the past four years. You could see it in the affection shown to all the Buzz and Woody figures toted along to the screening last week.
We begin again in Andy's room, home to a tight-knit community of toys who spring to life when people aren't around. Andy is going off to Cowboy Camp, leaving behind Woody, who is starting to show signs of wear and tear. Last time, Andy's birthday party and the appearance of the shiny, new Buzz Lightyear sparked a crisis for the toys. This time, it's the dreaded yard sale.
Pixar mirrors the plot of the first movie by flipping the situation, right down to the broken arm. In this one, it's Woody who is separated from the pack and must be rescued and reassured. Attempting to save Wheezy, a penguin who has lost his squeak, Woody is toy-napped by an unscrupulous collector. It's with mixed emotions that the over-excitable Woody learns he has a long history going back to the '50s as a rootin-tootin' TV character with a gang of cowpoke co-stars. Andy's stolen doll completes a set that will bring a fortune to the owner of Al's Toy Barn once he ships them off to a Japanese museum.
The drama of the sequel is watching Woody come to terms with whether he wants to be a collectible admired behind a glass case or a child's plaything -- a toy! The comedy is in watching the misadventures of the rest of the crew as they try to save the day. It takes a daring and outrageous attempt to cross a highway, and once they make it to the Toy Barn, "Toy Story 2" becomes an absolute riot. There's Rex, the neurotic dinosaur, now a video-game addict, devouring the tip book for the Buzz Lightyear game, prompting Potato Head to pull out his ears. There's Buzz encountering an entire aisle of Buzzes, one of whom is a little too gung-ho. And, funniest of all, Potato Head, now a "married spud," steering the boys for their first trip down the "pink aisle."
While the message again is all about loyalty and the special relationship between kids and toys, the whole scenario is funnier and less creepy than the twistedrealm of Sid's room in the original. There's also way more action -- just when you think this movie's winding down, it gears up and takes off again. Adding to the suspense is a new toy, Buzz's evil archenemy Zurg (action figure available for $7.99), who has a few things in common with old Darth Vader.
The genius of Pixar is that it can wield this mighty technology and push these products without losing sight of the characters and the story. If only Inspector Gadget had half the personality of any of these toys. The sequel has a star-studded cast at the microphones: Tom Hanks does his funniest work these days as Woody; he meets his match in Joan Cusack as sassy cowgirl Jessie; Wayne Knight (Hell-o New-man) is a perfect scoundrel as Al the Chicken Man; Tim Allen catches all the heroics of double Buzzes; and I'd share a toy box any day with the hilarious trio of John Ratzenberger (Hamm), Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head) and Wallace Shawn (Rex).
There are so many sight gags, so many tossed-off jokes and so much new detail in the animation, it's going to take a couple of trips to absorb all of "Toy Story 2." The Disney/Pixar partnership won't mind, and neither will the kids.
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Rating G