Toy Story 2

When I heard that there was going to be a “Toy Story 2”, I wasn’t surprised. I was excited but at that time as a teen, I figured that sequels were made just because of popular demand and therefore were rarely ever as good as were the original films. The only movie sagas that proved to me otherwise up to that point in my life were "Star Wars" and "Rocky". “Toy Story 2” showed me that filmmakers could care about their creations just as much or even more so than the fans. Because Pixar values the stories they tell as much as they do, that love comes across in the finish product. “Toy Story 2” not only has the original cast returning and allows us to relive what we loved from the first film but it introduces new characters and new moments that are just as entertaining. The story is a fun new relatable adventure with heart as well as humor. The story behind the film is important to me as well as the little cameos and inside jokes found within the movie. For 20 years, “Toy Story 2” has been my favorite animated film and I am so happy to fully illustrate why.

The production of this movie started out like so many Disney sequels: direct-to-video. When Disney wanted to put this sequel on the big screen, Pixar knew that the film they were working on wasn’t good enough. Pixar was being divided into separate divisions and the creative, collaborative, fun spirit of the company was suffering as a result. John Lasseter sacrificed some much-earned rest from making two hit movies and setting up a company to take over the production and that demonstrates his love for “Toy Story”. Most of the movie was thrown out and with the help of the original creative geniuses behind the first film, “Toy Story 2” defied the odds. The film was completed at record pace to meet a deadline that Pixar was not allowed to change when they decided to start things over. Lasseter knew he had to follow the example of Walt Disney: tell a great story with great characters and push the technology further. I love the technological achievements in this film such as the artistic montage when Woody is cleaned. As teens, my friends and I loved this sequence and now I completely understand why after having gone to university. It is one of the best examples of editing, cinematography and montage in an animated film. The scene when Woody tries to get his arm back from Al is also well done because even today, there is so much believability in Al’s acting and design. The “Woody’s Roundup” show was so realistic that when I first saw it, I thought the puppets on the TV were real. The skilled animation and filters that were applied to the images pull off reality in a convincing way, even all these years after the film's release. There are many other advancements such as the dust on objects and the special effects in Buzz’s opening adventure but the best part of the film is of course the story

Lasseter knew he had to respect and revisit a lot of things that everyone loved about the first film. He also knew that he had to make the movie fresh. The first film was a buddy picture about getting home and the sequel is both those things plus a rescue film. Another genius idea of Pixar’s is that “Toy Story 2” has some parts that make it almost like a prequel. We see Woody and Buzz’s origins. We see the worlds and other supporting characters from whence they came. I find it interesting how Buzz knew exactly where he came from on the first film but Woody has no idea until the second film. There are even funny nods to the first film and other movies by way of cameos and inside jokes. The best reference to another film is the character of Geri, who comes as the toy cleaner. Every kid in 1999 knew who this guy was because they had to watch his short Oscar-winning funny film on the “A Bug’s Life” video in order to get to the feature film. What is funny to me is that because the production of “Toy Story 2” had to move fast, the filmmakers didn’t have enough time to create a whole new character that comes to clean Woody. Pixar was so smart to reuse a character and turn it into a joke at the same time. Geri’s introductory reveal on “Toy Story 2” is so funny because you are not expecting him to show up. Another funny allusion was the reveal of “Deluded Buzz”. It musically and cinematographically mirrors the moment in “Toy Story” when we first meet Buzz. I also like the idea of a toy trying to improve himself with Buzz trying to get the utility belt. The multiple references to “A Bug’s Life”, the science fiction references in the opening space adventure, the use of the Pizza Planet delivery truck and other such examples are not only hilarious and fun but they serve important purposes. They helped Pixar cut corners while entertaining the audience and moving the story forward all at once. This need to save time I believe inadvertently created a fan theory that holds water more than most. When I first saw the movie, I wondered whether Andy's mom was Emily. When this did not happen as the movie came to a close, I assumed that this kind of resolution was cliche and the filmmakers decided against including it. I also thought that other fans had the same thought process that I did and that is why I didn't feel the need to mention it in the years following the release of "Toy Story 2". I do not say this to brag but rather to explain my thoughts on this theory. One piece of evidence that the theorists point out is that Emily's cowboy hat is the same as Andy's. However, I believe that this was another way that Pixar sped up the production process to make the release date. The sequence was mandatory to make the movie better but Pixar was in a rush. That is why we not only see Andy's hat in this flashback but the tree from Ant Island and the small make-up mirror from P. T. Flea's Circus. It would have been nice for this possible plot point to be included but another reason why the filmmakers might have decided against it was that it was too coincidental.

The screenwriting is so fantastic. For example, there is a balance between humor and exposition in the scene where we meet the Roundup Gang. Woody is taken on a wild ride on Bullseye and meets a crazy lady. He then comes across the only toy that appears sane but the guy is in a box. The audience shares Woody's fear and confusion. I like movies that have a pivotal scene towards the end where the characters spell out for the audience all the conflicts & emotions felt and seen throughout the adventure. Pixar has many of these moments and one of the best examples is the conversation between Woody and Buzz in Al’s apartment. I love how even though there are only a few scenes in “Toy Story 2” with both Woody and Buzz together, they are so special and their argument at Al’s place is no exception. Just like the first movie, both characters have a crisis. Woody is a selfless toy now but he still has some personal fears of loss. He feels he is in danger of being thrown away and this causes him to do things that appear noble but are also a little self-seeking. He tries to rescue Wheezy because Wheezy represents Woody’s possible future. This causes Woody to be kidnapped. He feels bad for the Roundup Gang being in storage and so he decides to go to Japan with them. You can’t really blame Woody for deciding to go to Japan however because The Prospector is very manipulative. Also, Woody’s newly discovered past is a very uplifting thing for him. Just like Woody has multiple reasons to go to Japan, Buzz has more than one reason to try and save Woody. He and the rest of the toys need him as a friend. Buzz also would not be able to go on in life knowing that he did nothing to help the toy that did so much for him. Upon finding Woody, Buzz finds himself in an unexpected predicament of trying to remind Woody of the same message that Woody himself taught Buzz: “life's only worth living if you’re being loved by a kid.” His newly found purpose in life is in danger and he must defend it ironically against Woody. Woody starts out ecstatic because he gets to share his origin with his friends. They are unimpressed and so Woody becomes regretful that he has to go to Japan for the sake of the Roundup Gang. When that fails, he becomes as annoyed as Buzz is. Buzz isn’t just annoyed though; he is scared and sad that he is losing his best friend. You can see this in his eyes briefly after he says, “Because I believed him.” He leaves but only after he tries one last attempt to change Woody’s mind and it does cause doubt for Woody. Immortality has a price. I love how “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” reminds Woody and the audience of everything the first film stood for. Even Buzz hears the song and again shows his sadness and heartache. The filmmakers didn’t have to show Buzz’s reaction to the song but the friendship between Woody and Buzz is so important and it could come to an end. Woody finally realizes once again that Andy's happiness matters most. Once he puts aside himself, Woody is able to figure out that he can take his new friends with him, making everyone happy. Woody and Buzz come to understand what everyone in life must understand: things don’t last but instead of losing interest in life, we must cherish it and make the most of it in a mature way. The final scene between Woody and Buzz is some of the best screenwriting of Andrew Stanton. It reveals what I have just pointed out and assures us that Woody and Buzz will be together “for infinity and beyond”.

All the characters in the Toy Story films are so important. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen once again perform their characters so well that you forget that they are the voices. Woody and Buzz become their own entities. I love Tom Hanks’ improvisation when he checks out the "Woody's Roundup" merchandise. The returning cast is handled in such a satisfying way, as are the new characters. Our first impression of Jessie is that of a wild, zesty, enthusiastic woman but we come to see how hard of a life she has had. When the film was being remade, the Oscar-nominated “When Somebody Loved Me” was one of things added and this was so important to making her fit into the “Toy Story” universe as a relatable character. To make things entertaining for the adults, Newman from "Seinfeld" kidnaps Woody. Even though this is not actually the case, Wayne Knight’s performance and Al’s design come together to create entertainment that adults can enjoy as well as kids. The Prospector is a good antagonist because you trust him until he “comes out of his box”. He fooled me because I thought that he really cared for Woody and the other toys. His scene when he tells his brief back-story is powerful because of Randy Newman's score, the animation and the vocal performance from Kelsey Grammer. Because the character of Buzz was so much fun from the first film, it only makes sense that his deluded nature should make a return. Deluded Buzz is even more deluded than Andy’s Buzz was and this makes the adventure even more fun. I laugh so hard as Andy's Buzz ironically says and does things that Woody did in the first movie such as pointing out that the laser is a light bulb and opening Deluded Buzz’s helmet. Other fun characters include Mrs. Potato Head as played by Estelle Harris (another "Seinfeld" connection) and Zurg (there must be something seriously wrong with the Buzz Lightyear line of toys).

Back when animated films could win the Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy, "Toy Story 2" did so and that was cool. John Lasseter’s greatest contribution to this sequel was that he reminded everyone at Pixar of the balance between humor and heart. You can’t be funny for the sake of being funny and you can’t make sequels just because you can. You must have a good idea for a movie, even if it is a sequel. “Toy Story 2” taught me that it is possible to create a sequel that is better than the first film but you need to have a fun but fresh adventure with new characters. You have to masterfully revisit the world of the original film while expanding it at the same time. The "Shrek" movies got carried away after the 2nd one and rather than let that happen, Pixar cared enough to work hard and do things right. They came out winners with “Toy Story 2”. It is my favorite film released in 1999 and also my favorite sequel of all time. The film ends in such a way that you don’t need another Toy Story film but over a decade in the future, a new generation would get a chance to see what it is like to enjoy a new Toy Story film. The results were impressive and positive.

5 Stars out of 5