STARS: ****
DIRECTOR: John Lasseter
PRINCIPLE CAST (VOICES):
Tom Hanks
Tim Allen
Joan Cusack
Kelsey Grammer
TAGLINE: The toys are back!
I love cartoons and this film is no exception. I�m not even going to compare this film to the
original because well, sadly, I have yet to see the whole thing, but this film stands all on its
own. Toy Story 2 is the fun adventure of a toys trying to rescue Woody from the evil Chicken Man.
Led by Buzz Lightyear, the toys are faced with the many dangers a toy faces when making a long
journey: a two-story house, vast bushes and, of course, traffic. Woody on the other hand is locked
in a hotel room with old confidants he never knew he had, Jesse, the yodeling cowgirl, and Stinky
Pete, the old Prospector. After the usual struggles and arguments between toys, all is settled
and we have the usual happy ending.
It�s true, cartoons are not just for children anymore. Animated films are becoming quite
legitimate pieces of cinema. Toy Story 2 is a prime example of this. Not only does it have an
appealing story, but humorous moments that reach adults as well as children. With its
ever-impressive computer graphics (one particular scene made the Chicken Man look quite
realistic), this movie proves that we have come a long way in animation. Added to this is the
beautiful song "When She Loved Me," sung with such elegance by Sarah McLachlan. This song is so
touching it actually made me want to get out all my old toys from storage just to show them what
they meant to my childhood. Toy Story 2 is a visually impressive adventure film for children of
all ages. A! A real accomplishment for Disney and Pixar!
