Disney w/o for Em - The Ultimate Sequel!

You are reading a contribution to the Disney ~*~ When You Wish Upon A Star Write-Off!

Emily Rose, the young daughter (15 months old) of fellow Epinion member,
ImAmes, is battling Retniblastoma (a form of cancer, which is found in the eye).

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Also, special thanks to shurie for the Write-Off link host.
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Thank you!


Well I think I may finally be able to make a start on this review….the write off publication deadline as of now is er 104 minutes – plenty of time I should think! Its rather a relief to use a fast computer….it took me 24 minutes to do essentially nine-tenths of bugger all using the Apple Mac from the Cretaceous period on the other side of the room.

I should mention that this Disney write-off is actually the first I have ever participated in – and it is unfortunate, in a manner of speaking, that it should be such a worthy cause. I would much rather participate in a Write Like An Egyptian Write off or Getting Spastic Off Cognac and Writing-Off than trying to raise money to help save a young girl. I can only hope that little Emily and her family get through this okay, and along with everyone else my thoughts are with them at this time.

Introductions aside, I shall proceed with the review. I for some reason always had this odd notion that Pixar was actually independent of Disney – I did not know until now that they were linked together. I guess I should have looked at the box a little more closely. Anyway, as it is, I can say right of the bat that this particular animation is an incredibly enjoyable little romp of silliness, and a little bit of cartoonish drama just for a bit of spice.

This one picks up sometime after the last one has ended, with Woody the Cowboy (voiced, of course, by Tom Hanks) left languishing at home nursing a severe case of cloth dislocation. His owner Andy is forced to leave him behind when going away for camp, so that Woody can get repaired (or discarded, either or). While the kids are away, the mother holds a garage sale, where one of the toys (a broken little squeezable penguin) is about to be sold. In a fit of heroic rage, our ragdoll Woody tries to save him, but ends up in the hands of the unscrupulous and utterly insane Big Gay Al (ooops sorry wrong show), I mean Al of Al’s Toy Barn. Al is desperate to have Woody because he completes the full set from one of the most popular cartoons of the 50’s, Roundup Gang.

Whilst held prisoner in the Al’s office, Woody meets the other members of the show – Jesse the Cowgirl (Joan Cusack, Stinky Pete (Kelsey Grammer) and his horse, Bullseye. It eventually becomes clear that Woody was the leader of the posse in this cartoon, something which he has forgotten, and is quite an, er, difficult realisation for the formerly housebound Woody.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, sorry house, the rest of the toys are worried about Woody, and follow (Big Gay) Al back to his toy barn. The usual mob is involved – Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger Extraordinaire (voiced by the irrepressible Tim Allen), Rex the Neurotic Tyrannosaur, Mr Potatohead, Hammy the Piggy Bank, and Slinky the Extension Dachshund. The gang set out in hot pursuit, and by various ingenious and resourceful ways, locate their quarry.

The rest of the story involve the antics of the toys, firstly in finding and recovering Woody, and then rescuing his new friends from being taken to Japan as part of the collection (which is now worth a lot of money, since it became complete). We also have the introduction of some new characters – including Buzz Lightyear Mk II, who is a rather idealistic and enthusiastic hero, but doesn’t quite understand the nuances involved. We also bump into the evil Emperor Zurg, which includes an eerily familiar Star Wars-like scene involving paternity issues. Barbie also makes a welcome appearance as a babelicious doll and tour guide that has the other toys drooling! There is also an amusing cameo from the little green aliens, involving prophecies and their idolatry of one of the characters. They are very odd little things!

Now, you probably don’t need to know the ending – as you’ve either seen it, or knowing that it is a Disney film, know that is going to end up all fine and dandy. But what makes this so different from pandering morality tales is the sense of fun and adventure throughout. There are never any overtly scary moments, a lot of fun moments involving different toys, and a lot of very funny humour which maybe only adults will understand.

The animation is absolutely outstanding. Obviously, no cost has been spared here – everything gleams like new shoes and buildings and outdoor scenes are remarkably realistic, even the faces of people. They are obviously not real, but there has been still an enormous amount of effort to make them look real, whilst retaining the cartoony gloss and at-times impossibilities in the average, Gravity-bound and Physics-obeying world. Pixar certainly outdid themselves with this effort, and more than likely were giving themselves pats on the back before the film was even released.

There are tons of funny moments. Rex, and Mr Potatohead especially share some funny lines. None too many come off the top of my head, but I do know I was grinning like a village idiot pretty much all the way through the video, and there are many laugh out loud moments. The outtakes are pretty darn good for a cartoon…and especially Mr Potatoheads demanding, bespectacled potato wife packing hubby for the grand adventure. All I can say is, I draw the line at the monkeys!

Thanks very much for reading, and I hope you can read some or all of the other participants in this worthy write off and contribute to helping Emily and her family out. Thank you!

Viewing Format: Snuggled in a corner of a small couch in the living room
Plot Details: Pretty much covers the lot I'd say!
Video Occasion: To make up for not having seen it at the cinema
Suitability for Children: Heck, its made for the little buggers!
Action Factor: Enough stunts and danger to fill an episode of Funniest Home Videos
Special Effects: the whole thing is a special effect
Suspense: Hey, come on, this is Disney here!


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