This file was generated 2002-11-28 06:10 GMT. This movie's information hasn't changed since 2001-09-03.
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.
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.
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.