This ninety-two minute wonder, with animations, graphics and wisecracks galore, is a family entertainer right from the word go!
Say hello to Woody the Cowboy, Buzz Lightyear the Astronaut, and a host of other toys in Andy’s room. Delve into their lives for a bit and see the world through the eyes of a toy.
The movie is a credit to the imaginations of director John Lasseter, co-director Lee Unkrich and the rest of the team at Pixar films, who have done a fantastic job portraying the experiences of a bunch of playthings.
It all begins with Woody being whisked away by the money-obsessed Al Mcwhiggin who wants to make a quick buck by selling Woody, Jessie and Stinky Pete, who together constitute “Woody’s Roundups”, to a Japanese museum.
Buzz Lightyear, the practical, smart spaceman; Hamm, the flirtatious, opinionated pig; Rex, the anxiety-ridden dinosaur; Slinky Dog, the ever-compliant spring dog; and finally Mr. Potato Head, the married, devoted spouse, make up Woody’s rescue team. Braving nineteen blocks of a predominantly human-infested city, they make their way towards the missing cowboy, encountering a lot of adventures, misadventures and new characters on the route.
The dialogue is scintillating. Clearly, the screenwriters Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin and Chris Webb have captured the essence of what makes the audience crack up with laughter in a script, namely repartee and wit.
Don’t miss the scene in the car between the three alien toys and Mr. Potato Head. It’s hilarious. In the space of a few minutes, it draws on all we’ve ever seen and heard about alien life-forms, especially in films.
The voices of Tom Hanks (as Woody), Tim Allen (as Buzz Lightyear) and Joan Cusack (as Jessie) lend these three main characters that extra sparkle and touch of reality that embellishes their already perfect animations.
Keeping in mind that the audience would largely be comprised of children and adults who just want to put their feet up and relax, the ending is climactic, yet happy. Believe it or not, the titles at the end of the film are worth watching too.
The last word: go watch this flick just for kicks. And don’t forget to take your kids along with you.
This article was first published on 15 May 2000.