All Critics (146)
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Top Critics (30)
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Fresh (152)
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DVD (38)
Pixar's improved computer animation is up to all the demands of this excellent adventure.
The movie's clearly articulated theme is whether life should be lived for the future or in the present, something both adults and children may find provocative.
Even though computer animation may seem like the coldest, least organic art form, the characters pulse with more humanity than most live actors can muster in a dozen mainstream movies.
In the realm of sequels, Toy Story 2 is to Toy Story what The Empire Strikes Back was to its predecessor, a richer, more satisfying film in every respect.
Toy Story 2 transforms from rootin'-tootin' 'toon to museum-class art.
Takes a childhood notion -- the life that every child truly believes his or her toys have -- and runs with it in a breathtakingly imaginative way.
Stunning, witty, exciting, enchanting, and moving.
...explores the same themes, but running in place has never seemed as witty, touching and visually engaging as it does here.
'You can't rush art.' Pixar's bliss in art and play is part and parcel of both the creation and the meaning of Toy Story 2, a celebration of the pure joy of doing. [Blu-ray]
Toy Story 3 has an extremely tough act to follow.
Toy Story 2 is the first mature Pixar film and a high watermark that, if Pixar's surpassed it in the last fifteen years, at least it hasn't often.
The film is a series of gorgeously conceived set pieces and terrific character interaction and, unlike newer films, it's not afraid to get a bit grim.
Seeing the film ten years later - and in the mighty shadow of Pixar's recent masterpieces - the film feels a little chaotic, safe, tired on its feet.
It's rare for a sequel to outstrip its predecessor, but Toy Story 2 succeeds admirably.
The film remains one of Pixar's finest moments. It's unexpectedly dark in tone, and, with its underlying theme of mortality and abandonment, it's perceptively written and superbly animated.
The sharp, clear shapes and planes, with their vivid colours and hyperreal light, promise to float in front of the audience's eyes, near and far, in something like the old-fashioned 3D way.
With the messages about friendship, loyalty and the all-too-fleeting nature of childhood already striking the perfect emotional chord, the 3D treatment simply deepens the visual experience.
Eye-rolling action, needle-sharp in-jokes, engaging characterisations, perfect plotting... The only fault with this movie is one slightly irksome ballad. But even that's not going to stop you floating out of the cinema sporting a big, soppy smile.
If you've not seen Toy Story 2, you're in for a treat.
Funny, inventive, surprisingly affecting and packed full of delightful touches, this is family entertainment of the highest order and definitely worth catching in this format.
Remaining entirely true to Part 1 and yet establishing itself as a completely independent work, it is almost impossible to fault.
As with the recent 3D version of Toy Story, the 3D upgrade to Toy Story 2 is extremely impressive and makes this an unmissable experience, even if you've already seen it 20 times on DVD.
Not content to simply re-create the success of its predecessor, the sequel... reveal[s] itself to be a surprisingly philosophical work.
Inventive, hilarious, witty, touching and exhiliarting, (the final climatic scene which follows an airline's baggage handling system is heart stopping) "Toy Story 2" is that rarest of things - a perfect film.
Our emotional autobiographies influence our film tastes more than we'd care to admit.
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