TOY STORY 2

TOY STORY 2 (1999) ***

Reviewed 11/28/99

Pixar's latest, Toy Story 2 is a bit slow to set up, but delivers in its second half, particularly in a scene when toy Jessie the Cowgirl (Joan Cusack) recounts how her child owner grew up and out of her life. This is the fear that Woody (Tom Hanks) has to consider in deciding whether to return to his owner, Andy (John Morris), or to attain eternal fame in a museum in Japan. Once again, Wayne Knight takes up a Newman-like persona in playing a villain, Al, who steals Woody to sell to said museum. Enter Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), and Slinky Dog (Jim Varney) to the rescue. Only does Woody want to be rescued? This moral dilemma makes Toy Story 2 more interesting than the more obvious original even if the outcome is also stacked.