Toy Story 2

A superior sequel, Toy Story 2 follows Tom Hanks’ Woody as he’s kidnapped by a toy collector (Wayne Knight’s Al) and prepared for a sale to a Japanese museum – which prompts Buzz (Tim Allen) and friends to embark on a dangerous rescue mission. It’s almost astonishing just how engaging and enthralling Toy Story 2 remains for the duration of its brisk, perfectly-paced running time, as filmmakers John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, and Lee Unkrich manage to retain Toy Story‘s myriad of successful elements without transforming its followup into a complete retread – with the picture certainly benefiting quite substantially from an often eye-popping animation style and several captivating voice performances. (The film boasts superb work from an eclectic supporting cast that includes Kelsey Grammer, Joan Cusack, and Wallace Shawn, although there’s little doubt that Hanks and Allen’s iconic efforts remain a continuing highlight within the franchise.) The breezy, fun atmosphere is heightened by an ongoing emphasis on spectacularly conceived and executed set-pieces (eg Buzz and the gang search for Woody within an expansive toy store), while the periodic inclusion of heartwarming, genuinely touching interludes paves the way for an impossible-to-resist undercurrent of emotional resonance (ie Jessie’s backstory is just a devastating as ever, certainly) – which ultimately does secure Toy Story 2‘s place as one of the very best sequels in movie history.

**** out of ****

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