--- title: "Toy Story 2: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/toy-story-2/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/toy-story-2" critics_score: 86 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Toy Story 2 (1999): what the critics said Critics' score 86 from 8 reviews: 7 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics regard Toy Story 2 as a sequel that matches or improves on the original, with praise clustering around its inventive script, accomplished animation and strong voice work. The reviews repeatedly connect its technical advances to its emotional reach: the toys’ fears of being forgotten give the comedy weight without crowding out the jokes. New characters and lively set-pieces also draw praise, as does the balance of entertainment for children and wit for adults. The disagreement concerns freshness and tone rather than the strength of that emotional connection. Sight and Sound finds the sequel less fresh despite its richer understanding of the toys’ limited time with their owners. Slant Magazine offers the clearest dissent, finding the staging and direction flawed, the action short on imagination and the sweetness excessive, while still recognising its feeling for love and loss. The spread is otherwise concentrated firmly at the positive end. ## Radio Times — David Parkinson Rating 5/5. Praises it for surpassing the predecessor and restoring credibility to family entertainment, with thrilling action for youngsters and clever in-jokes and touches for grown-ups; calls it nigh-on perfect. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-vdqqd7/toy-story-2/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 24 November 1999. The critic praises the film for capturing the emotional bond between children and their toys, emphasizing themes of love, belonging, and the fear of being forgotten. It highlights the inventive storytelling, strong voice performances, and Pixar's animation as creating a profound and entertaining experience beyond typical sequels. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/toy-story-2-1999) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 February 2000. The critic calls it an upgrade and species leap in animation rather than a mere sequel, praising its technical magnificence, hyperreal visuals, and human script that surpasses earlier films like The Phantom Menace. They single out the emotional power of Jessie's song "When She Loved Me" as a standout tear-jerker alongside the witty characterisation and inventive plot. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/feb/04/6) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 1999. The review calls it a richer and more satisfying sequel with broadened scope, emotional depth, and boisterous humor that surpasses the original in every respect. It highlights the fresh characters, thematic poignancy around mortality, and outstanding voice work as key strengths. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/toy-story-2-2-1117759786/) ## Empire — Caroline Westbrook Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls Toy Story 2 a highly superior sequel that matches the original in quality and inventiveness, with strong new characters, set-pieces and jokes. It is praised for the care taken to make it as good as the first film rather than a quick cash-in, leaving viewers wanting more. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/toy-story-2-review/) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 1999. The review celebrates the sequel's enhanced imagination and technical sophistication while maintaining the charm and wit of the original. It singles out the film's ability to blend cutting-edge animation with heartfelt storytelling about loyalty and nostalgia without sentimentality. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/24/movies/film-review-animated-sequel-finds-new-level-of-imagination.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 November 1999. The critic finds the film lively and good-humored, delivering smart comedy and impressive visuals while exploring themes of mortality and identity for toys. It praises the emotional depth and inventive scenarios that make it both comic and surprisingly moving. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-19-ca-35106-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Aaron Cutler Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2009. The critic finds Toy Story 2 flawed in its staging, direction, and overly sweet tone compared to the original, with action sequences lacking imagination. However, it remains emotionally resonant through its themes of love, loss, and the bond between toys and their owner. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/toy-story-2/) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman 1 March 2000. The critic praises its sophisticated, melancholy understanding of toys' brief shelf-life and emotional depth, noting effective upgrades over the first film like integrated musical numbers, while acknowledging it's less fresh. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/566) ## Time Out — GA 13 March 2014. The critic finds this sequel a work of even greater wit and imagination than the first, with great gags, action and dialogue that touch the heart without sentimentality, making it wonderful for kids and adults alike. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/toy-story-2) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray 19 January 2001. The critic finds that John Lasseter's sequel matches the original technically, imaginatively and emotionally. The toys feel familiar on a second outing but the Pixar animation and heartfelt storytelling remain strong. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/toy-story-2-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/toy-story-2.md