Let's Review: Toy Story 2
Feb. 7th, 2013 11:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shamanicshayminSo, what did it take for Pixar to earn my trust again after "A Bug's Life"? Not much, actually. Nobody knew what to think when "Toy Story 2" was first announced. But when we got to the theaters, we were pleasantly surprised. It managed that rare, rare feat that only "The Godfather: Part II" accomplished... a sequel that was better than the original.
Now that we got the "Old-favorite-toy-is-jealous-of-the-new-one" plot out of the way and Woody & Buzz are friends, this allowed Pixar to move on to better stuff. I liked that Andy's dog was a friend (and even a mode of transportation) of the toys instead of a danger. I liked the cast in it too! Well, except Stinky Pete and the Chicken Dude, I didn't care much for them. (Though for the latter, I kept thinking of the Jurassic Park guy played by the same person, so that tidbit amused me) However little screentime she had, I liked Mrs. Potato Head and was glad she got a bigger role in the next movie. :) I wanted to give Weezer a big hug (squeak or no squeak!) and omg the cameo of Geri from "Geri's Game" was the greatest thing on the planet. And the aliens are back! I'm eternally grateful! ;D
Rex and Slinky are still good, and I liked Mr. Potatohead and Hamm a lot more this time around. It's like bam, everyone gets more character development. And Buzz, oh man, it's amazing how he's grown from the first film. ("Tell me I wasn't this deluded...") I loved loved loved loved loved the Buzz Lightyear #2 and Emperor Zurg thing. I laughed my ass off at all their scenes and it's just beautiful to behold. And adorable Rex and his quest to beat difficult video games. This is the funniest of the trilogy for me. :3
The sequel brings up a lot of interesting ideas too. If a toy was part of a franchise, how would he feel knowing he had his own TV show/books/etc? How do toys interact with duplicates of themselves? Are they all clones of each other or do they have little quirks that still individualize them although they're the same "character"? The two Buzz Lightyears have similar personalities, but coming from different walks of life, they make different decisions and set themselves apart from the rest of the Buzz Lightyears at Al's Toy Barn. Likewise, I imagine that a franchise toy who had lived alone all his life would be fascinated to know about their "missing" history the way Woody has. Though it does make me wonder. Do some franchise toys retain their "stories" while others don't? Buzz Lightyear came to life thinking he was the "real" Buzz Lightyear, but Woody didn't know a thing about the Roundup Gang. I doubt Woody would've forgotten either, 'cause he might have said something like, "Hey, you look familiar..."
Bullseye wasn't bad, he was pretty cute and worked well as a sidekick, kinda like another version of Slinky. But you guys have been waiting for me to talk about someone else: Jessie.
I thought she was great. I was pretty meh towards Bo Peep, so I didn't think much about her. But Jessie? She really brings life and energy into the "Toy Story" franchise and they did a good job of balancing her cheerfulness with her sad backstory. She wasn't shoehorned as a love interest for Woody (makes sense, considering he already has Bo), but rather was his partner in the Roundup Gang. She felt like she fit right into "Toy Story" like a missing puzzle piece. She does start off as cranky whenever Woody wants to go home to Andy, but ultimately she's sympathetic, particularly in the latter half of the film.
It's no secret that I love Sarah McLachlan. But oh god. Oh god. ;; "When She Loved Me" is my favorite song of the "Toy Story" franchise(switch the gender of the pronouns, and you get a Sir Aaron/Lucario song from Lucario's perspective. ;;), and one of the most memorable scenes to boot. It's not the first time movies/books/etc. about living toys have brought up abandonment/neglect from children as they grow older or tired of playing with them. But actually watching Jessie have a wonderful, loving childhood before being forgotten about and eventually donated? Ouch. And the song definitely doesn't help.
One thing bugged me though. Why didn't Jessie move from under Emily's bed? I suppose she thought Emily would find her eventually, but wouldn't she try to get her to notice her, at least subtly without giving away that she was alive? Did Emily have any other toys? If she did, did any of them go under the bed to console Jessie or try to convince her to come out?
Unpopular Opinion Time~! I do not like Buzz/Jessie. I like Buzz, I like Jessie, but not together. Buzz and Jessie hardly get any screentime in the film, and the little romantic scene where Buzz tried to talk to Jessie felt tacked on and unnecessary. Considering Woody & Bo, I get a humongous Pair the Spares vibe from it, and it's just ugh. I hate Pair the Spares. :/ I felt like if Pixar wanted to develop a romance between them, they should've waited for the next film. Sure, they get better interaction in "Toy Story 3", but it feels a lot like, "Yeah, about the Buzz/Jessie thing, I guess we gotta fit in some scenes where they're actually developing something." Blegh to that ship.
To take the apology for "A Bug's Life" even further, "Toy Story 2" had bloopers too. Go figure, they're even more hilarious than the ones from ABL. ;D
Next up, "Monsters, Inc."!
Now that we got the "Old-favorite-toy-is-jealous-of-the-new-one" plot out of the way and Woody & Buzz are friends, this allowed Pixar to move on to better stuff. I liked that Andy's dog was a friend (and even a mode of transportation) of the toys instead of a danger. I liked the cast in it too! Well, except Stinky Pete and the Chicken Dude, I didn't care much for them. (Though for the latter, I kept thinking of the Jurassic Park guy played by the same person, so that tidbit amused me) However little screentime she had, I liked Mrs. Potato Head and was glad she got a bigger role in the next movie. :) I wanted to give Weezer a big hug (squeak or no squeak!) and omg the cameo of Geri from "Geri's Game" was the greatest thing on the planet. And the aliens are back! I'm eternally grateful! ;D
Rex and Slinky are still good, and I liked Mr. Potatohead and Hamm a lot more this time around. It's like bam, everyone gets more character development. And Buzz, oh man, it's amazing how he's grown from the first film. ("Tell me I wasn't this deluded...") I loved loved loved loved loved the Buzz Lightyear #2 and Emperor Zurg thing. I laughed my ass off at all their scenes and it's just beautiful to behold. And adorable Rex and his quest to beat difficult video games. This is the funniest of the trilogy for me. :3
The sequel brings up a lot of interesting ideas too. If a toy was part of a franchise, how would he feel knowing he had his own TV show/books/etc? How do toys interact with duplicates of themselves? Are they all clones of each other or do they have little quirks that still individualize them although they're the same "character"? The two Buzz Lightyears have similar personalities, but coming from different walks of life, they make different decisions and set themselves apart from the rest of the Buzz Lightyears at Al's Toy Barn. Likewise, I imagine that a franchise toy who had lived alone all his life would be fascinated to know about their "missing" history the way Woody has. Though it does make me wonder. Do some franchise toys retain their "stories" while others don't? Buzz Lightyear came to life thinking he was the "real" Buzz Lightyear, but Woody didn't know a thing about the Roundup Gang. I doubt Woody would've forgotten either, 'cause he might have said something like, "Hey, you look familiar..."
Bullseye wasn't bad, he was pretty cute and worked well as a sidekick, kinda like another version of Slinky. But you guys have been waiting for me to talk about someone else: Jessie.
I thought she was great. I was pretty meh towards Bo Peep, so I didn't think much about her. But Jessie? She really brings life and energy into the "Toy Story" franchise and they did a good job of balancing her cheerfulness with her sad backstory. She wasn't shoehorned as a love interest for Woody (makes sense, considering he already has Bo), but rather was his partner in the Roundup Gang. She felt like she fit right into "Toy Story" like a missing puzzle piece. She does start off as cranky whenever Woody wants to go home to Andy, but ultimately she's sympathetic, particularly in the latter half of the film.
It's no secret that I love Sarah McLachlan. But oh god. Oh god. ;; "When She Loved Me" is my favorite song of the "Toy Story" franchise
One thing bugged me though. Why didn't Jessie move from under Emily's bed? I suppose she thought Emily would find her eventually, but wouldn't she try to get her to notice her, at least subtly without giving away that she was alive? Did Emily have any other toys? If she did, did any of them go under the bed to console Jessie or try to convince her to come out?
Unpopular Opinion Time~! I do not like Buzz/Jessie. I like Buzz, I like Jessie, but not together. Buzz and Jessie hardly get any screentime in the film, and the little romantic scene where Buzz tried to talk to Jessie felt tacked on and unnecessary. Considering Woody & Bo, I get a humongous Pair the Spares vibe from it, and it's just ugh. I hate Pair the Spares. :/ I felt like if Pixar wanted to develop a romance between them, they should've waited for the next film. Sure, they get better interaction in "Toy Story 3", but it feels a lot like, "Yeah, about the Buzz/Jessie thing, I guess we gotta fit in some scenes where they're actually developing something." Blegh to that ship.
To take the apology for "A Bug's Life" even further, "Toy Story 2" had bloopers too. Go figure, they're even more hilarious than the ones from ABL. ;D
Next up, "Monsters, Inc."!
