The best sequel of all time

Rating: 9/10 (24 February 2008)

If you discount "Empire" as part of a sequel, and unlike many of the people who address the board I always feel that the Godfather part II feels like a rehash of the first with the similar ending. The first "Toy Story" was a film that pushed the boundaries of what computer animation could do, but it feels like a tester, like the first. It doesn't go to places with the script and characters the way that this one does. There are moments in this film that move and pull on the heartstrings in the same way that the Disney master-classes of the past such as "Snow White" and "Dumbo", especially with such intricately marvellous moments such as the cleaning of Woody and Jessie's song that even now manages to wring a tear out of me.
This movie starts where the last one left off with Buzz and Woody being the best of friends, however after an accident whilst being played with, Woody's arm is ripped and he is left on the shelf. After coming to terms with the fact that he may be binned Woody, through a natural series of events, discovers who he is and the fact that a child of Andy's age having a toy like Woody all becomes clear.
The voice work of Hanks and Allen is as good as ever, but with Kelsey Grammar and a hyper Joan Cusack (YEEE-HAAA!) added the cast improves no end. The animation in this film has also improved, and even though it is not of the standard of Monsters Inc or the Incredibles, it's still very passable.
This film feels like what I wanted out of Toy Story and didn't get. Buzz is more likable, Woody's fantastic and the message within the film of the true value of loyalty and friendship, with the sad part being that the price we pay for these things is eventually loss.
If the first film was a test of what the animators could do, then this is a test of what the writers and directors can do with the new toy of computer animation.
Results of the test...Straight A.