Starring computer whiz kids, and the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen
The trees, that is. They looked so real! Computer animation may have reached a temporary zenith with Pixar's prodigous skills in "Toy Story 2," but the amazing visuals are not wasted on a throwaway "kiddie" story.
In fact, the sequel to the third-highest grossing animated film of all time manages to entertain the seven people (including this reviewer) who somehow missed out on the fun the first time around.
For those not in the know, toys have lives of their own when a child's attention is on more important matters, like eating. Two of the best toys in Andy's lovable stable are Woody and Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen).
Everything is playtime in toyland until Woody falls into the evil clutches of Al McWhiggin (voiced by Wayne "Newman" Knight), a money-grubbing toy collector that has been looking for the rare, circa 1950s toy for most of his pathetic life.
Woody meets up with the rest of the characters from the television show he was based on, including Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the mint-condition Prospector (Kelsey Grammer). They want Woody to stay because if the whole collection of toys is intact, they can be shipped to Japan to be viewed in a museum forever, rather than never seeing the light of day in the hell known as storage.
Meanwhile, Buzz Lightyear will not let Woody leave the toys and Andy forever. He organizes a rescue mission with his cohorts Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, Rex and Hamm. Despite the impossible odds of a bunch of crazy toys trying to make it in the real world, somehow the bundle of plastic with hearts of gold make their way closer and closer to McWhiggin's mighty fortress.
You can't say enough about how amazing the computer animation is. Who knows how the animators do it and how many sleepless nights they spent on backgrounds alone, but in a word, incredible.
Those older kids among us that go to see "Toy Story 2" just to satisfy a younger sibling while out shopping may like it as much as the target audience. Things stay sweet without an ounce of sap and the story of a greedy toy collector is very apropos and quite humorous, especially if you've ever attended a toy or comic convention and seen a McWhiggin (out).
The bigger, more personal concept the movie grasps is the inevitable loss of interest by children in their toys as they grow older. A musical scene to a surprisingly decent Sara McLaughlin song tugs at the heart strings with a golden look back at Jesse's glory days where she had all her parts and the love of a child. This time, we see it through the toys' eyes, which makes everyone a little guilty or extra mad that those He-Man or She-Ra action figures aren't still prized possessions. I'm sorry, Man-At-Arms.
During this holiday season, if Aunt Becky starts to really get on your nerves and little Bobby won't sit still while you try things on at Target, ease your holiday heartburn with one small dose of warm-hearted goodness, a very real proposition.
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