"Toy Story 2" Is a Joy 2 Watch!

Rating: 10/10 (31 March 2008)

"Toy Story 2" is twice as much fun as "Toy Story." Sequels seldom equal originals, but "Toy Story 2" does with flying colors. Bad sequels stir the ashes, while good sequels ignite new fires.
Advanced animation, exciting cliffhanger thrills, and inspired storytelling propel this plaything over its simple-minded but insightful predecessor. Not only does "A Bug's Life" director John Lasseter and co-directors Ash Brannon and Lee UnKrich take "Toy Story 2" out of Andy's house, but they also give girls a heroine of their own to cheer: cowgirl Jessie (Joan Cusack of "High Fidelity").
A greedy toy collector, Al McWhiggin (voiced by Wayne Knight), discovers Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) at a yard sale after our cowboy hero has rescued Wheezy, Andy's squeaky rubber toy penguin, from being sold. Andy's mom cannot part with Woody. Instead, she locks him up in her change box, but the obnoxious, balding, middle-aged, pot-bellied wholesaler breaks into it and steals Woody. Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen) gathers the old gang: Slinky Dog (Jim Varney); Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Hamm, the piggy bank (John Ratzenberger), and Rex, the dinosaur (Wallace Shawn), and they strike out to free Woody! They face new enemies and obstacles of the Indiana Jones variety. They cross a busy city street disguised as traffic cones and create widespread chaos.
Meanwhile, trapped in Al's Toy Barn, Woody learns that he once starred in "Woody's Round-Up, an imitation of "Howdy Doody,' a once popular 1950s' kiddies' program on TV. Woody finds himself reunited with cowgirl Jessie, Stinky Pete the Prospector (Kelsey Grammar), and a horse named 'Bullseye.' The show spun off a line of merchandise, such as Sheriff Woody dolls.
McWhiggin has spent his entire life searching for Woody. Indeed, Woody is the missing link in an incomplete memorabilia set. Now, the villainous toy store owner can sell the whole shooting match for millions to a Japanese museum. Jessie, Stinky, and Bullseye are ecstatic about the prospect of immortality under glass in a museum. They have been stacked up in storage, a doll's equivalent to limbo, and they refuse to go back. Initially, Woody cottons to the idea of going to Japan. McWhiggin cleans him up and mends his broken arm. Woody found himself in this mess because Andy broke his arm accidentally during some rough horseplay before he shelved poor Woody. Locked on the horns of a dilemma, Woody weighs his love for Andy versus his quest for immortality.
"Toy Story 2" emerges as a veritable "Schindler's List" for animated characters. The rather philosophical plot ponders issues such as toy immortality and the fickle nature of a child's love. The worst thing you can say about "Toy Story 2" is that it is merchandising with a melodrama. Thematically, in a poke at "Pokemon," "Toy Story 2" argues that toys should be loved and played with instead of collected to gather dust on display. Altogether, "Toy Story 2" qualifies as a hilarious treat for youngsters that adults can appreciate, too.