Starring:
Tom Hanks as Sheriff Woody (voice)
Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear/Buzz Lightyear II (voice)
Joan Cusack as Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl (voice)
Kelsey Grammer as Stinky Pete the Prospector (voice)
Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head (voice)
Jim Varney as Slinky Dog (voice)
Wallace Shawn as Rex the Green Dinosaur (voice)
John Ratzenberger as Hamm the Piggy Bank (voice)
Annie Potts as Bo Peep (voice)
Wayne Knight as Al the Toy Collector/The Chicken Man (voice)
John Morris as Andy (voice)
Laurie Metcalf as Andy’s Mom (voice)
Estelle Harris as Mrs. Potato Head (voice)
Jodi Benson as Tour Guide Barbie/Barbie on Backpack (voice)
Joe Ranft as Wheezy the Penguin (voice)
Special Features:
Deleted Scenes
Hilarious Outtakes
New Sneak Peek At Pixar’s Next Animated Feature, CARS
All-New Game — “Which Toy Are You?”
And Much More!
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.77:1)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX Sound
DTS 5.1 Surround ES Sound
French and Spanish Language
Spanish Subtitles
Running Time: 92 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is from the DVD cover:
“A Golden Globe Award winner for Best Picture, Toy Story 2 has become a favorite all across the world, garnering praise from fans and critics everywhere. It’s “an instant classic,” raves New York Magazine. Now, in a 2-disc collector’s edition with a sparkling theater mix, this groundbreaking animated adventure is even better!
While Andy is away at summer camp, Woody is toynapped by Al, a greedy collector who needs Andy’s favorite toy to complete his Roundup Gang collection. Together with Jessie, Bullseye, and the Prospector, Woody is on his way to a museum where he’ll spend the rest of his life behind glass. It’s up to Buzz, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, Rex, and Slinky Dog to rescue their friend and remind him what being a toy is all about.
Bursting with exclusive bonus features, including deleted scenes, outtakes, a new game, and much more, this hilarious comedy classic raises the bar on family entertainment to infinity and beyond.”
Toy Story 2 is rated G.
Mini-Review:
Just like with Toy Story, Disney has reissued Toy Story 2 with a remastered soundtrack and enhanced picture. Unless you’re a real home theater buff, you probably won’t notice the difference. Still, it’s fun to see this classic film reissued with additional bonus features. Toy Story 2 was originally supposed to be one of Disney’s lame “straight to video sequels,” but late in the game everyone involved realized they had something special and it was reworked into a theatrical release. The final result is one of those rare sequels that equals or surpasses its predecessor. They even managed to introduce a few new characters The Prospector, Bullseye, and Jessie who hold their own against the original cast. And as a Star Wars fans, I loved seeing the numerous references to the classic trilogy.
This edition of the DVD has the outtakes which were seen on previous editions. Added to it is a commentary with John Lasseter and other crew members and a sneak preview of the upcoming film “Cars”. On the second disc is a game entitled “Which Toy Are You” hosted by Rex and Hamm. You answer questions to determine which toy you are most like (my son is like Zurg, much to his amusement). There’s also a bizarre “Rock Paper Scissors” game hosted by Woody and other characters that appeared on a Japanese TV show. It is so weird that my kids watched it over and over and over.
Also included are a couple of Deleted Scenes. One is an alternate opening where Rex pretends to be Godzilla and destroys a town. In the process Woody is accidentally knocked out the window and into the garage sale. The second deleted scene is an alternate version of the road crossing scene which takes place earlier in the film.
Last but not least is a series of extensive Behind The Scenes featurettes covering the design, story, production, music & sound, and publicity. Inside these you’ll find interviews with the characters, music videos, and alternate versions of the flag waving scene that was used in international releases. There’s a ton to see here. Some of it is a little bittersweet as we see Pixar’s Joe Ranft in a number of scenes. He was recently killed in a car accident. You certainly appreciate his contributions after seeing this. Also be sure to look for a couple of hidden Easter Eggs.
Overall, if you’re a Pixar or Toy Story fan, this is a required addition to your collection. It’s a bit rough having to bite the bullet and buying an additional copy, but you’ll love the bonus features.
