The cute characters from Toy Story return for a second animated adventure in which cowboy doll Woody (Hanks) gets kidnapped by a toy collector who wants to sell him to Japan, and Buzz Lightyear (Allen), dinosaur Rex and pals have to go to the rescue.
Just as fun as the original for both grown-ups and the kids it’s supposedly aimed at, this suffers only slightly from the fact that the best two characters – Woody and Buzz – don’t interact together very much (after all, their bickering was the funniest part of the original Toy Story), but junior audiences won’t be disappointed. Eagle-eyed viewers should watch out for cameos from some of the cast of A Bug’s Life – Heimlich the caterpillar can be seen in one scene munching on a leaf.
There are also spot-on homages to 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars – plus the Barbie dolls who dance in one scene are apparently copying moves by Ann-Margret in 1964’s Viva Las Vegas.
Is Toy Story 2 suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...
Very young viewers may find Buzz’s nemesis, Zurg, scary.
If you like this, why not try: Toy Story 3, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, Gnomeo And Juliet,