Amusing But Not Amazing

Rating: Null/10 (26 November 1999)

Overall, "Toy Story 2" was a very entertaining experience. Led by director John Lasseter, the animation team at Pixar has always been able to whip up some truly impressive eye candy, and they do not disappoint here. The film has a lot of cleverness and some true moments of inspiration, such as Woody's discovery of his past through an old kinescope of his TV show, and Buzz's battling of another Buzz Lightyear doll seized by the same delusions he himself suffered in the first film. The voice work is also top-notch, especially the wonderful Wallace Shawn as timid tyrannosaur Rex, and the new characters are engaging and fun.
However, the narrative lacks either the sly cleverness or the direct emotional pull of the first film, and the nasty toy salesman Al (voiced by the somewhat grating Wayne Knight) never reaches the gonzo heights of "Toy Story"'s toy-torturing Sid. Too many of the best gags were lifted from the first film, and too much of the story seemed to be a replay of events from the original "Toy Story", just with Woody in Buzz's place.
Still, I was once again impressed with Lasseter's ability to make us see the child-toy relationship from a toy's perspective, and the idea that toys know that their time with children is numbered is a poignant one. "Toy Story 2" is not the exuberant classic its predecessor was, but it's a sweet and entertaining little film, and I think children will really love it.