Toy Stories 3D

Director: John Lasseter, Ash Brannon
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen

Review: 4.5 stars (of five)

There’s little need to review Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999) in terms of content—a decade after they came out, they’re firmly established as a pair of amazing kids’ movies that also keep adult audiences riveted. The question before the court today is whether the two-week rerelease as a double-feature, remastered for 3D, ups the entertainment ante.

It can be noted that, as amazing as they seemed when they came out, and as entertaining as they remain, Pixar’s first and third films have been pretty effectively eclipsed by later Pixar films like the stunning Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and Up.

The two films work great as a double feature—at DD and DD min, even the rather young audience can make it through both. In fact, when you watch the sequel right after the original, you can see how reactions to the initial film may have shaped No. 2. All through the first movie, children got restless during the slower moments that dealt with emotion and character development, but were held in silent awe during the action. The second film, splitting the main characters into two teams, increases and intensifies the action while accomplishing character and emotion in shorter bursts.

It’s the 3D that’s new here. Since neither of these films were made for 3D, the camera angles don’t really exploit the potential of the clever effect. If you’re the type who loves 3D for its unique, literally in-your-face thrills, this will seem tame. But if you just feel lucky to be catching these two films in a theater again, you’ll find the added effect a pleasant bonus.

Between the two films is a ten-minute intermission (that was probably really 15) in which those who don’t run to the bathroom get a few short animation clips and some Toy Story trivia questions. It makes for a seamless, well-thought-out double feature, and if it happens to also promote next summer’s Toy Story 3, well, that must just be a coincidence, right?