Same formula,same results...which for this is good

Rating: 9/10 (13 July 2007)

In 1999,the PIXAR gang was rife with limited(but growing)success from 1995's Toy Story and 1998's A Bug's Life. Disney and much of the film world still seemed somewhat cautious(if not skeptical),and probably figured a four year wait on following up the to-date signature success entry was a safe number for a company that was far too comfortable with(and at the time,had not yet been shaken away from)traditional,hand-drawn animation. While the success of this entrant did not prove them wrong,it may've opened the door to much more of what we Se today in movies:mostly or completely computerized animation.
The story of this Toy Story is pretty much an inverse to the first,only this time,instead of Buzz Lightyear being whisked away from the group somehow,it's Cowboy Woody's turn to somehow get swept away from the herd. When Woody(voice of Tom Hanks)rescues a forgotten toy penguin named Wheezy from being a cheap sale at the family garage sale,he is taken up,bought and locked away by an unscrupulous toy store magnet named Al(voice of Wayne Knight,which may've been the most inspired of this inspired vocal casting of this film). Without their traditional leader,the toys get behind Buzz(Tim Allen,just piling on to his "Kid/Family friendly" career in movies and t.v.) to try and rescue their friend,for which the journey is going to be a lot more perilous than the last time out.
The whole gang is back for this one: Don Rickles as Mr.Potato Head,John Ratzenberger(A PIXAR favorite)as Hamm the Piggy bank,the late JIm VArney as Slinky Dogg,Annie Potts as Bo Peep,R.Lee Ermey as the Toy soldier leader,Wallace Shawn as T-Rex and Estelle Harris as Mrs.POtato Head. Added to the mix(and Not to the least importance)are Joan Cusack and Kelsey Grammar as Yodeling Cowboy Annie and Prospector Stinky Pete(respectively),two toys from the obsolete line of characters from which Woody was brought out of,both wanting to reunite with Woody permanently. Additional voice help is a myriad of talent,much of whom(such as the late JOe RAnft)are also PIXAR regulars,and add a lot of solid background to this effort. Directors John LAsseter and Ash Brannon,working off a script co-authored by Lasseter and Pete Docter,are able to seamlessly,seemingly effortlessly craft something bold,beautiful and unique out of almost the same construct and characters,which is no mean feat. A keeper of a movie,whether you have kids or are just a big kid yourself.