Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, John Ratzenburger Wallace Shawn and Wayne Knight
Ah Yes, The Toys Are Back In Town
I know I have said this before, and I am sure I will say it again. I love Disney movies! And ever since Pixar teamed up with Disney for the first Toy Story, and then later on with A Bug's Life they have been adding a new element with some amazing computer generated animation. This time the animation is even better, although a little more subtle, and the story is just as good, if not better, than the original. And of course there is a plethera of voice talent back from the first, with a few new famous voices thrown in which all combine to make a spectacular sequel.
Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) get a little R & R
This movie pretty much starts like the first Toy Story did, with us (the audience) seeing all of the toys in Andy's (John Morris, Toy Story) room playing on their own and just being alive when they are not being looked at by humans. After Andy leaves for camp his mom starts looking for stuff to sell in a garage sale. She finds Wheezy (Jon Ranft, Toy Story, A Bug's Life), a little squek toy that has lost his squeeker, so she tries to sell him. Of course Woody (Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump, Toy Story, Saving Private Ryan) can't let that happen, so he goes down to the garage sale to save Wheezy. While down there he is discovered by Al McWhiggen (Wayne Knight, "Seinfeld," "3rd Rock from the Sun"), the owner of a giant toy store. It turns out Woody is a valuable collecters toy from an old 1950's TV show. When Al discovers that Woody is not for sale, he does the honorable thing and steals him. Woody's best friend and fellow toy leader Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen, "Home Improvement," The Santa Clause, Toy Story) vows to go out and save him so he leads a rescue team of Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles, Toy Story, Casino, Quest for Camelot), Slinky Dog (Jim Varney aka Ernest P. Worrell, Ernest Goes to Camp, Toy Story), Hamm the Piggy Bank (John Ratzenberger, Cliff on "Cheers," Toy Story, A Bug's Life) and the toy dinosaur Rex (Wallace Shawn, The Princess Bride, Toy Story). With this crew of toys Buzz has to find Al's store out in the big world and then save Woody. Meanwhile, Woody has discovered he was a famous TV character and is starting to enjoy his status with his co-stars Jessie (Joan Cussack, In & Out, Runaway Bride), Stinky Pete the Prospector (Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier," "Cheers") and his horse Bullseye. Woody is so caught up in his apparent stardom that he is willing to go with Jessie, Pete and Bullseye to a toy museum in Tokyo. Luckily Buzz et al get to him and convince him that he should come home to Andy, but not before Al packs them up to go on their trip to Japan... can Buzz save Woody from the Al and get him and his new friends back home before Andy gets home from camp?
Buzz and his "rescue team" cross a street to save Woody
I loved the first Toy Story, and usually I don't like sequels nearly as much as the original (because they usually are just a lame attempt to get more money)... but Toy Story 2 is a spectacular sequel that at least rivals the first, and is probably better. First off, the animation, like the first, is incredible. In fact it is even slightly improved (although you have to pay attention to the details to really notice it), showing that computer animation is definitely the wave of the future. Second, the story is just as good as the first, and probably a little better. And finally, just like the first, the characters are funny with great voice talent behind them. The first Toy Story had such famous names as Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, John Ratzenberger, Jim Varney and Annie Potts and they are all back. But they also added Kelsey Grammer, Joan Cusack, Wayne Knight ("Hello, Newman!") and Estelle Harris (George Costanza's mom on "Seinfeld") along with tons of strong voice talent. There are also tons of silly jokes to keep the kids laughing along with subtler references for adults to enjoy (there are quite a few Star Wars references to catch). All in all, Toy Story 2 has everything the original had, and a little bit more... making a classic movie that everyone will enjoy, from little kids to college students to your grandparents.
