Toy Story 3-D Double Feature - Film Review

The CG Originator Comes Back With Added Dimension

Oct 2, 2009 Sam Hatch

While this 3-D re-release double whammy is essentially a teaser for next year's Toy Story 3, these vintage computer animated classics are still mint in box.

With today's glut of computerized kid flicks clogging the theatrical pipes, it's impossible to deny the impact Disney-Pixar's Toy Story had when it was originally released in 1995. The first feature length film to use entirely digital technology, it shocked the world by being both cheaper and more advanced than traditional cel animation.

All of which would have amounted to a whole lot of nothing had the story been a dud. Luckily, the crazy masterminds at Pixar are natural born storytellers. At that time they were relatively well known for crafting award-winning CGI shorts, all of which pushed technological envelopes while soaring on old school, character-driven story techniques. While the rest of the animation community subsequently embraced this modus operandi, Pixar always seemed to have the upper hand.

Pixar Animation - To Infinity And Beyond, With An Eye On The Past

So what better way to celebrate Toy Story's combination of cutting edge imagery and vintage writing sensibilities than by breathing new life into the old franchise (believe it or not, Toy Story 2 came out a decade ago) with the modern fixation on digital 3-D theatrical experiences? With an impending June 2010 release of a new third film, the series was ripe for a good dusting off. Just like ol' Wheezy on the top shelf in Andy's room.

For those who haven't been forced into thousands of child-influenced viewings of Toy Story, one of the first things to strike will be just how many forgotten gags are peppered throughout its brisk eighty-one minute running time. Indeed, this is a lean, economic blast of sheer entertainment that still fires on all thrusters. The concept was (and is) simple yet brilliant - what if inanimate children's toys secretly had a life of their own when not in the company of humans?

Buzz And Woody - We've Got A Friend In Them

A large chunk of Toy Story's charm is due to the undeniable chemistry of voice actors Tom Hanks (as the vintage cowboy doll Woody) and Tim Allen (as shiny futuristic new kid Buzz Lightyear). Their endless headbutting (and ultimate camaraderie) adds breadth to a relatively thin plot involving Buzz' reluctance to recognize his identity as a factory-made plaything.

As if these antics weren't enough, the peanut gang orbiting the two larger than life diminutives repeatedly drape copious comic dressing over their surroundings. These secondary toys include Don Rickles' acerbic Mr. Potato Head, Wallace Shawn's hyperactive plastic dinosaur Rex, Jim Varney's hangdog Slinky Dog, John Ratzenberger's wisecracking piggy bank Hamm and Annie Potts' virtuous shepherd Bo Peep.

Woody's New Friends - Come On, Gather Round

While the first film was groundbreaking, fun and original, its accidental sequel (Toy Story 2 was originally conceived as a straight-to-video cash in) benefited from advances in technology, built-in character recognition and endlessly inventive writing. It's rare for a sequel to better an original classic, but Toy Story 2 is as near flawless as films get.

Having established the friendship between Buzz and Woody, their new room order is torn asunder when the rootin' tootin' cowboy is accidentally put out amongst the detritus at a yard sale. The now leaderless toys are forced to hit the road, searching for a greedy memorabilia collector (voiced by Wayne Knight) wishing to sell Woody to a Japanese museum.

Enter the mythology-enriching concept of Woody's Roundup - a faux Howdy Doody TV clone that spawns both Hanks' hero and his instantly lovable companions Jessie (Joan Cusack) and Prospector (Kelsey Grammer). Stir in a wildly clever mix-up involving a secondary, delusional Buzz action figure and some stunningly creative action set pieces, and the end result is a modern classic.

Toy Story In 3-D - More Eye Popping Than A Shaken Mr. Potato Head

Part of the reason these films haven't aged at all is that there's far more life in them than their slick exteriors imply. The adults will love their sense of nostalgia and occasional biting commentary on commerce-driven toy curators. Not to mention a zillion pop culture references and in jokes. The kids will love the adventure-charged journey and wacky hijinks. And all will fall under the spell of the often touching emphasis on friendship and family.

All of this would be reason enough to seek out new theatrical viewings of these temporally immune wonders, but the tastefully rendered Disney Digital 3-D icing does add an extra bit of kick - particularly in the second feature, whose opening explosions and thrilling chase scenes lend themselves perfectly to the layered effect. And while the biological urge to step out during the intermission may be impossible to subdue, do stick around for as much of the very funny between-film silliness as possible.

These favorite toys are still very much worth passing on to the next generation.

Toy Story Rating: 9 out of 10

Toy Story 2 Rating: 10 out of 10

Both together: Infinity out of 10

• Toy Story / Toy Story 2 3-D Double Feature
• Directed by John Lasseter
• Toy Story Written By Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow
• Toy Story 2 Written By Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin and Chris Webb
• Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Kelsey Grammer, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, Joan Cusack, Wayne Knight
• Combined Running Time: 169 Minutes

The copyright of the article Toy Story 3-D Double Feature - Film Review in Animated Films is owned by Sam Hatch. Permission to republish Toy Story 3-D Double Feature - Film Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in Disney Digital 3-D

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