Falling with Style Part 2

Rating: Null/10 (24 February 2017)

When Woody is stolen by an avid toy collector, the other toys in Andy's room hatch a plan to rescue him in this ambitious sequel that takes the toys out of their comfort zone, exposing them to the world at large. Their interactions on the outside are certainly quite funny, causing road accidents and chaos by driving toy cars through a toy store, however, the best aspect of the film is how it furthers the personal identity themes of the first film. Both Woody and Buzz are provided with detailed back stories for their design and Woody has to wrestle with whether to join the toys from the set that he originally came from while Buzz finds himself up against another of him who likewise believes that he is a real spaceman and not a toy. Often cited as the weakest of the first three 'Toy Story' movies, 'Toy Story 2' is certainly a little too sentimental for its own good (Jessie's flashback drags on for too long) and not all the jokes work, but it remains fairly engaging to view, even with the novelty aspect of the first movie not the same. The toy characters are simply fun and interesting to follow around, often displaying surprising ingenuity while on their rescue mission. The film additionally touches on some interesting issues not covered in the first movie, such as the vulnerability of toys when being played with and the sense of loss when owners grow up and move on. No, the magic might not quite be the same here as in the "falling with style" original, but it is great to come across a sequel that at least tries to take the material in a different direction.