Cynical and disturbing

Rating: 6/10 (3 January 2002)

This is one film that left me with a very sour aftertaste. Yes, it's animated with character and vigour, and there are some fine -- if over the top -- voice performances. However, there are some very disturbing aspects to the film. The first is that it's like nothing so much as watching a 90 minute advert. Even if merchandising hadn't been released to support the film, all the supporting cast could already by bought in your local toy shop. I'm sure I wasn't the only viewer who found this more than a little suspect.
[Possible spoiler:]
The second, perhaps larger, point against the film lies in the characterisation of the two boys, Andy and Sid. Andy is the "good" boy. He plays safely and passively with his toys, they don't do anything toys wouldn't do. Sid, the "bad" boy is more creative. He adapts toys to fit his own vision, he's an innovator, a creator. It's this very creativity of his that is portrayed as a bad thing. Sid isn't the ideal target audience for this film: he wouldn't be satisfied with row after row of identical shop-bought toys, he would much rather make his own. I guess this review is being written for all the Sids out there, who are demonised and vilified by this ultra-corporate nightmare of a film.