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With flashing lights, retractable wings and a mission to save the Universe, Buzz soon becomes the favourite of both Andy and his toys, much to the disgust of Woody. The catch is that Buzz doesn't realise that he was made in Taiwan; he really believes that he's just temporarily crash-landed on a strange, new planet. As Buzz gets busy repairing his spacecraft (the box he came in), Woody feels ever more shunned, particularly when Andy changes his posters and duvet to the latest Buzz Lightyear editions. However, one evening Woody is determined to be the toy taken to Pizza Planet and he (accidentally) knocks Buzz out of the window and into, what seems to be, oblivion. The other toys accuse Woody of foul play and villainous envy, forcing him to try and retrieve Buzz.
By good fortune Woody manages to find him and with more luck than planning they make their way to Pizza Planet, hoping to be reunited with Andy. They almost succeed but Buzz becomes fascinated by a rocket shaped crane machine, crawling inside and forcing Woody to follow him. The inhabitants, little green men with three eyes, have evolved a religion where the crane is their god and whoever it picks up is one of the chosen few (who go onto a better life). Regrettably the next player is vicious neighbour Sid (Erik Von Detten), a kid who takes great pleasure in dismembering his sisters dolls and blowing toys up with rockets. At Sid's house there is a collection of mutilated and Frankenstein like creations, the results of his experiments, and it looks as though Buzz and Woody will be next! They must return to Andy (before his family moves house) and escape the destructive clutches of Sid, but how?
Toy Story is an outstanding movie, not only for its ground-breaking effects but because it is the funniest film that I have seen in a long time. Throughout the entire 80 minutes (it certainly feels like more) there is a constant thread of humour, utilising one-liners, character jokes, action comedy and subtle referential aspects (often several of these methods together) which work on two levels, appealing to both adults and children simultaneously. Although the tale is an old and simple one, of the power of friendship, it's what the creators have done with these elements that gives Toy Story such a stunning and lively script. The individual characters are interesting, witty, pitiable and completely entrancing, often playing off the voices that give them life to include external references (which it's a joy to pick up). Add fantastic 'camera' movement (such as following Buzz's view as he attempts to fly) to this rich broth and the result is satisfying, overwhelmingly enjoyable and worth watching again (immediately!). [Sure, Toy Story may not be the artistic/cinematic equal of The Seventh Seal but it is incredibly fun and a classic in its own right].
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