Review of Toy Story 2 (1999) by Stuart K — 05 Aug 2013

After the success of Toy Story (1995), a sequel was inevitable, but it nearly went straight to video, yet Pixar decided there was enough interest to put it in cinemas. However, it was a troubled production, and the story didn't work originally, and despite Disney claiming there was nothing wrong, Pixar redeveloped the entire film in under a year.

You'd think it would be a mess, it wasn't, it's a moving, funny and awe-inspiring sequel, showing Pixar at their most inventive. It's been a few years since the events of the first film, and after Woody (Tom Hanks) has his arm accidentally ripped by Andy (John Morris), Woody is left on a shelf, and when trying to save squeaky penguin Wheezy (Joe Ranft) from being sold at a yard sale, Woody is stolen by nasty, greedy toy collector Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight).

Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) recruits Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) and Slinky Dog (Jim Varney) to rescue him. Meanwhile, Woody finds that he's a collectable toy from a TV show called Woody's Roundup, he meets fellow toys Jessie (Joan Cusack) and Stinky Pete the Prospector (Kelsey Grammer).

It's a brilliant film, and it's a sequel which, despite the rushed production, manages to care about it's characters, and even puts some thought into the story as well, which Pixar has always managed to do with their films.