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Scott Ventura >> Movie Commentary >> December 1999 >> Toy Story 2

Toy Story 2

Movie Commentary by Scott Ventura

Details

Scott's Rating:
4 / 5
Times Seen:
1
Viewing Date:
December 1999
IMDB Name:
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Directors:
John Lasseter
Ash Brannon (co-director)
Lee Unkrich (co-director)
Keywords:
adventure, animated-feature, comedy
Made:
1999
MPAA Rating:
G

Sequel's Curse

There is much to praise about Toy Story 2. There are some excellent jokes, interesting new cast members, and an attempt to add more depth to a few characters. There are also delicious in-jokes for those familiar with other Pixar efforts and the real-life toys. It's sad, then, that the overall story just doesn't grip the way Toy Story did four years ago. It may not be a conventional sequel, but I consider A Bug's Life to come in the middle, and even though I wasn't as crazy about its story the first time out, it beats that of Toy Story 2.

Eye Poppers

When Woody is trying to climb evil collector Al, the scene features two spectacular visuals: cheese puffs and facial hair. Both looked absolutely real. The combination of tones and textures made the cheese puffs look just right, including the orange gunk on Al's fingers. The beard and stubble were expertly done, making Al's face the most realistic in the movie. Oddly, the rest of the humans were perhaps not cartoony enough, inviting criticism of their details, including less-than-perfect movements. The cars, though, were the worst offenders for physical reality. The scene with Geri makes up for these, though.

Musical?

As with Toy Story and A Bug's Life, Randy Newman did the score and threw together an original tune. That song is sung by Sarah McLachlan over a flashback montage. "You've Got a Friend in Me," the theme song for Toy Story, is performed at the end by Bob Goulet. I respect both singers, but neither has a folksy, raspy voice like Newman or Lyle Lovett. At least the second song loses much of its oomph as a result. I do appreciate Goulet's presence, though. I loved him as Quentin Hapsburg in Naked Gun 2 1/2 and as the pianist in a Weird Al video.

Nitpicking

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Copyright 1999-2001 by Scott Ventura. All rights reserved.