TOY STORY 2

(November 1999, U.S.)

Well, the decade and the entire century were coming to an end, and I was dating the woman who would one day become my wife. We went to a lot of movies together, and one day decided that the new TOY STORY movie was well worth a bus trip across Central Park shortly following a recent snow storm. Since the original 1995 film, there'd been a wave of computer-animated movies here and there. Most of them went right passed me because it simply wasn't the genre I cared for, though I recall having a genuine fondness for Woody Allen's performance in ANTZ (1998). Still, the comic talents of Tom Hanks couldn't be ignored and TOY STORY 2 was on my (sorry, our) list of movies to see during the 1999 holiday season.

So now it's just a few years later, and Andy is prepared to take Woody with him to cowboy camp. But while getting just one last playtime session in before leaving, he accidentally tears Woody's arm, and Woody ends up on the dusty shelf where toys have the past have gone forgotten. After rescuing Wheezy the penguin from a yard sale, Woody himself is discovered and stolen by a fat, greedy toy collector named Al (devilishly voiced by Wayne Knight). Witnessing the theft, Buzz and the rest of the toy entourage set out on their mission to rescue Woody. It's at Al's apartment that Woody learns his true identity in that he's part of Woody's Roundup along with cowgirl Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack), Bullseye the horse, and still mint-in-box Stinky Peter (voiced by Kelsey Grammer). The Roundup was a national 1950's phenomenon that included a hit TV show (ultimately cancelled) and vast assorted merchandise, which Al has collected all of. Now that the vintage set is complete with Woody in it, Al prepares to take the entire collection with him to a museum in Japan for big, big bucks. Intending to return to Andy at first, Woody reconsiders when he realizes that the museum is only interested in the collection if it's complete, but also because he realizes that his time left with Andy is destined to be short-lived as Andy continues to grow up, and grow out of his toys. Woody's arm is accidentally ripped off completely, and like Harvey Keitel in PULP FICTION, the "toy cleaner" is brought in to not only fix Woody, but make him look as brand new. While still conflicted about returning to Andy, Jessie reveals she once belonged to and was deeply loved by Emily, who eventually outgrew her and gave her away to charity (sad, indeed).

Meanwhile, Buzz and the others reach Al's Toy Barn as they continue their search. Tour guide Barbie makes an appearance to entice the other toys, and Buzz is caught and imprisoned by another Buzz Lightyear action figure, who thinks he's the real space ranger (sound familiar?). One can't but laugh a little extra when original Buzz #1 says to himself, "Man, tell me I wasn't this deluded." Buzz #2 eventually joins the group, and head for Al's apartment after discovering his plan. Reunited, Woody continues to be reluctant in returning to Andy, thus looking forward to his trip to Japan. But of course, Buzz reminds Woody of their true purpose is to be there for Andy for as long as possible. Woody changes his mind, and convinces Jessie and Bullseye to go with him, but Pete is determined to get to Japan, even if it means holding the rest of the Roundup gang against their will.

Bound for the airport now, the toys remain in pursuit to get Woody and his new friends back. The scene into the baggage handling system and the multitude of suitcases is quite a visual feast in that you not only wonder how the toys will be rescued, but also in the knowledge that it's just that busy and insane inside that thing. Pete is defeated and ends up in a little girl's backpack who likes to paint her toy's faces. Woody rescues Jess from the airplane as it's taxiing down the runway and eventually all of them are home again awaiting Andy's return from cowboy camp. Whatever time they'll all have with Andy, they'll enjoy while it lasts, thus giving us all the Hollywood happy ending we need in a movie like this. Oh, and don't forget to stay for the closing credits so we can all enjoy the toys in their own hilarious bloopers.

Speaking as a sequel four years later, the quality of the animation of TOY STORY 2 is surely improved to look a lot more crisp and detailed, thus abandoning any bright and colorful hues of the first film. Still, the second go-around makes it a point of not simply being a remake of the first film, but rather exploring the characters as toys just a little deeper while never forgetting to maintain the same fun spirit of a toy's story. One also can't help but consider the world of the toy in not only its purpose of being loved and played with by its child owner, but also their place in the world as a collector's items intended never to be played with. For any of us who are adult toy collectors (I'm not...not really), we're reminded of the true value of toys and what they mean to not only our childhood past, but how we perceive ourselves today as grown-ups. Whatever my personal reasons may ultimately be, TOY STORY 2 remains my favorite film of the franchise (it was also a memorable and snowy date with my future wife).

Favorite line or dialogue:

Woody: "What's that? Jessie and Prospector are trapped in the old abandoned mine and Prospector just lit a stick of dynamite thinking it was a candle and now they're about to be blown to smithereens?"