Movie Review: Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Fun stories and great characters enhanced by the 3-D

Cons: Animation shows its age

The Bottom Line:

15 years later

These two movies are still fun

Watch them again now

Twice the Fun, Three Times the Laughs with the Toy Story Double Feature in 3D

Note: This review was written when the Toy Story films were released in 3D in the theaters in the fall of 2009.  But you'd probably already figured that out.

A couple months ago, a friend of mine saw his first promo for the Toy Story double feature.  His first comment to me was, "I know what we're doing in October."  I didn't even try to deny it.  And sure enough, we went last night to see Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D.  Predictably, I loved it.

Toy Story has a place in cinematic history because it was the first full length computer animated movie.  Leaving history behind, it is just plain good.  For starters, there's the premise, toys coming to life when no one is around.  The movie tells the story of Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks).  He's Andy's favorite toy, and enjoys his status as head toy as a result.  But all that changes when Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure.  Woody has to deal with jealousy as his play time disappears.  Furthermore, all the toys in Andy's room love Buzz, too.  Plus Buzz seems to think that he's the real Buzz Lightyear.  But what will happen when Buzz and Woody get lost out in the real world?

People may have initially gone to see this film because it was something novel, but they keep seeing it because it is good.  The animators at Pixar are brilliant in their creativity.  Just watch the plastic soldiers walk.  Not to mention that we've got great characters.  Even though Woody isn't exactly likable at times, he's still understandable.  You root for him.  And you feel for Buzz when his delusions of grandeur are ruined.  I had forgotten just how many great one-liners I still use originated in this movie until I rewatched it.

The one strike against this movie would be the animation.  It's from 1995, and it shows.  Everyone looks plasticy.  That's fine for the toys, but the humans look that way, too.  Don't even get me started on the dog character.

Toy Story 2 came out four years later.  This adventure begins when Woody is toynapped.  It's then that Woody finds out he was a tie in for a popular TV show.  In fact, Woody is a valuable collector's item.  This new knowledge begins to go to his head while Buzz and the rest of the gang attempt to find and rescue him.  Will they succeed?  Will Woody want to be rescued?

The brilliance of this movie is that they use the same characters and universe, but expand it.  We're introduced to the rest of the characters in Woody's round up gang.  We also get our first glimpse of Barbie (in a hilarious cameo).  While the first movie focused more on Buzz and Woody, some of the other toys get an expanded role here.  Once again, the story is entertaining.  And the laughs are plentiful.

Frankly, it doesn't matter how many times I've seen these movies, I still laugh the entire way through.  And the all star cast (including the likes of Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, Joan Cusack, Jodi Benson, and Kelsey Grammer) bring their characters to life perfectly.  If you look closely, you'll notice there are lots of "in jokes," some even related to this actors.  Oh yeah, and some guy named John Ratzenberger is also in both movies.

The animation is much better is the second movie.  True, it's still not up to the standards Pixar has set with their most recent efforts.  But the humans and dogs look better.

The big attraction for this rerelease is the new 3-D print.  I've got to say that it is impressive.  All the scenes look like they have more depth.  Obviously, there aren't too many gimmicky scenes, but they do play up all the scenes they can.  In fact, at times it was a little obvious the movies didn't start out in 3-D when a scene would start out with a great 3-D shot and then turn just before it was about to get really impressive.

As a true double feature, you pay once for the two movies.  There is a 10 minute intermission between films.  But this isn't complete down time.  They put up trivia and bonus content as well as have dialogue between the characters who are supposed to be watching the films along with us.  Yep, more added fun.  Obviously, you'll have to judge for yourself whether your kids can sit through both movies or not.  Frankly, I was having trouble with the seats in the theater where I saw the film by the time the second film was over.  They were only comfortable for so long.

I'm glad I was able to make it to the theater to see these two great movies in 3-D during their limited run.  If you are a fan, make a point of going to see the Toy Story films in the last few days they are showing.

(As a side note, I found a connection between the first movie and Cars.  Can you spot it?)