Toy Story 2 (1999): "Ride like the wind, Bullseye!"

Crazy enough, this week's random wheel landed on Toy Story 2, the sequel to the famous Toy Story franchise, which was reviewed a couple weeks ago. Check that blog post out first just to avoid spoilers!

If you weren't already aware before, apparently Toy Story 2 was met with widespread critical acclaim, with a rare 100% rating on the website Rotten Tomatoes, like its predecessor. It is considered by critics to be one of the few sequel films superior to the original and is frequently featured on lists of the greatest animated films ever made. Insane!

In fact, the entire sequel almost didn't exist. In 1998, Pixar was getting ready to release Toy Story 2. The film was nearly complete and final edits were being made; however, when someone hit the wrong button, the movie’s files began to disappear. Luckily, one of the crewmembers had been working from home a lot because she had a newborn baby, so the team realized it was possible that she could have a more recent back-up on her home computer. The producers then jumped into cars and drove to her house to retrieve the computer. They even heaved it out to the car and carefully placed it in the back seat, cushioning it with blankets and strapping it in tightly with seatbelts. Can you image there never being a Toy Story 2? My childhood would have been ruined. Thankfully, though, we have had the film to treasure for 23 years, and we can take this moment to appreciate it. 

Let's rewind this classic: at the beginning of the movie, Andy is preparing to take Woody to cowboy camp but accidently rips Woody's arm during playtime. When rescuing Wheezy from a yard sale, a broken penguin squeaker toy who Woody meets, Woody is then stolen by a greedy toy collector. Buzz Lightyear attempts to rescue Woody from Al's car but is unsuccessful. 

At the collector's apartment, Woody meets Jessie the cowgirl, Bullseye the horse (my personal favorite toy out of the franchise), and Stinky Pete the Prospector. Much to his dismay, Woody learns that he and and the other toys at the apartment are to be sold to a museum in Japan. While Woody intends to return back to his owner, Andy, Jessie becomes resentful towards him due to her trauma at being abandoned by her own owner a long time ago. When Woody learns about this and the girl who outgrew Jessie, he then decides to go to Japan, fearing that Andy will one day outgrow him, too.

Meanwhile, Buzz has enlisted the help of Slinky, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, and Rex to rescue Woody. The toys arrive at Al's Toy Barn and search for Woody. Buzz is imprisoned by a new Buzz Lightyear toy who believes he is a real space ranger, similar to how Buzz behaved in the first Toy Story film until he had an identity crisis and realized that he was, in fact, a toy. New Buzz now helps the toys reach the collector's apartment, believing that they are on a mission to rescue Woody from the Evil Emperor Zurg. OG Buzz escapes and follows them, unintentionally releasing a toy Zurg.

When the toys reach the collector's apartment, OG Buzz attempts to persuade Woody to come back with them. However, Woody remains convinced that Andy will outgrow him and decides to stay with Jesse and Prospector Pete to go to Japan. Buzz leaves with the rest of Andy's toys, but Woody shortly comes to his senses. Before he, as well as Jesse and Bullseye, can leave, Stinky Pete stops them, revealing he feels envious having never been sold. The toy collector soon takes them all to the airport. Buzz and Andy's toys chase after them but are intercepted by Zurg who engages New Buzz in a battle. And commence my favorite scene in the movie . . . where New Buzz and Zurg fight, oddly similar to that between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, even to the point of referencing the sci-fi film by stating, "No, Buzz, I am your father." Even though I didn't understand the reference as a kid, I am definitely loving it now.

The toys follow the toy collector to the airport in a Pizza Planet truck (ah throwbacks). They manage to save Woody and place Stinky Pete in a backpack belonging to a young girl. However, Jessie is still trapped in the suitcase and is almost boarded on the plane to Japan, but Woody, Buzz, and Bullseye manage to save her. Nobody shall get left behind!

The toys arrive back home just before Andy returns from summer camp. Andy is overjoyed to have new toys in his collection, to his surprise. Wheezy has also had his squeaker fixed. In the end, Woody tells Buzz that he no longer fears Andy outgrowing him because he will still have Buzz to keep him company "for infinity and beyond."

If you want to take a look at the classic Toy Story 2 for yourself, don't hesitate and check it out available on Disney+ or on DVD!