TOY STORY OF TERROR Scary For Its Weakness

 Article first published as TOY STORY OF TERROR Scary For Its Weakness on TheTVKing.

Toy Story is a classic, beloved film, which spawned two sequels, one decent, and one amazing. It's this high standard that any future spin-off or extension must love up to. (Yes, I'm ignoring early expansions, such as the Buzz-centric project, which I haven't seen, and seems already forgotten from the public consciousness.) Unfortunately, this week's ABC special, Toy Story of TERROR, falls very short.

Disney has a history of weak sequels and specials, but for some reason, I thought Toy Story would be immune. For one, it has the Pixar connection, and Pixar stuff generally rocks. For another, even though they have made a series of TS films, the third one was absolutely every bit as good as the first, providing serious emotional heft and development for the characters. Thus, I hoped the reputation would not be tarnished.

Right away, Toy Story of TERROR fails because it only follows a small group of characters from the movies, which seem put together randomly. Buzz (Tim Allen), Woody (Tom Hanks), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), and Rex (Wallace Shawn) are present, but absent are classic characters like Slinky Dog, Hamm, and Bullseye. And tossed in are two recent additions, Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) and Trixie (Kristen Schaal).

Now, from a story standpoint, I can see why little Bonnie (Emily Hahn) would take a couple of her old favorite playthings with her, as well as some newbies, but it just seems so random in the episode, as if the producers locked down their main players, and then just kind of picked a few supporting ones based on actor availability or whose star is currently rising. And granted, in twenty minutes, there is not time to include everyone, with many of those who are present getting little to do. I just wish there had been more of a sense that this was planned out and each particular personality is included for a reason, as several seem to serve no purpose.


The main plot involves the group going to a motel. Mr. Potato Head is not content to sit in the luggage, and explores the room, looking for free amenities. The other toys venture forth to rescue him, are quickly separated, and fall into the hands of an evil desk clerk (Stephen Tobolowsky, Californication), who sells them on eBay. Jesse must overcome her fear of being in boxes to rescue them all before Bonnie leaves them behind.

The desk clerk arc definitely feels like a retread of Toy Story 2's toy man, and not in a good way, that being the worst of the three films. It's nice that this villain gets his comeuppance when one expects he won't. However the story would work with just an animal stealing toys, not needing this unnecessary man. Given the short running time, I wish he would have been cut.

The story involving Jesse's fear is OK, but a much lighter version of the drama present in the movies. And rather than being inspired by her friends to overcome her fears, she meets Combat Carl (Carl Weathers, Arrested Development), which feels unnecessary, especially when Carl and the other new toys introduced don't end up with Bonnie, doomed to be a forgotten footnote, even if the series continues past this. Given the very small role most of the main characters have in this installment, one of them should have stood in for Carl's part. Buzz seems a good choice.

Another main element of Toy Story of TERROR is that Mr. Pricklepants seems an expert on horror films, and in this spooky, Halloween-themed plot, he tells them what to look out for, sort of like a certain character in Scream. I guess this is in place for the kids watching, who wouldn't know many of the elements of a scary movie yet. But it does kind of drag down the proceedings.

There are some nice elements. I really liked the desk clerk's pet iguana, which hilariously acts like a dog. The shower curtain rip and Mr. Potato Head's arm hopping around on its own are a good play on the horror genre. It's not truly frightening, which is good for the little kids who will invariably watch. The original voice cast returns; I didn't pick up on any recastings, which always detract from the overall enjoyment.

Toy Story of TERROR is a misstep, though, and hopefully, if the Toy Story saga is going to continue, more thought and effort are put into the next installment. These toys deserve better.

Up, up and away

     The latest film from Disney / Pixar (Toy Story, Finding Nemo) is Up, which was recently released on DVD.  It was a cute movie, not short on humor or pathos.  But much of it did not live up to previous ventures.

     Up opened beautifully, with a long sequence featuring Carl (voiced by the wonderfully gruff Ed Asner) and his life with his wife, Ellie.  Like Wall-E, there was not talking in the beginning, just music and montage.  Pixar has proved that they do this well, and this was no exception.  Twenty minutes in, there were tears in my eyes.  All of that really set up the story, as Carl tied a bunch of balloons to his house, rather than go quietly into a nursing home, and set off to place it at Paradise Falls, a dream of Ellie's since childhood.  When several obstacles tried to prevent him from getting the house in place before the balloons lost helium, he ignored others' feelings and needs to try to satisfy what he thought of as a last tribute to his deceased wife.  It was sweet, if a bit short sighted, and that part of the movie was wholly satisfying.

     The end, too, was done right.  Carl needed to learn that others could care for him, and that he could still have a life after Ellie was gone.  While it was a bittersweet lesson, the ending again got me choked up, and things ended the way they should, albeit a lot more predictably than, say, Ratatouille, the 2007 film from the same company.  Still, making the obvious choice can be forgiven if done correctly, as the ending in this film was.  I'll even give them credit for creating a villain who was not entirely two dimensional.

     The problem with this film was the middle.  Yes, Carl needed to learn his lesson, but certain events to get him from the beginning of the mission to the end were just plain silly.  The dogs with the talking voice boxes, yes interesting and clever, but overused, especially in making Alpha's malfunction.  Some jokes were used over and over again until they were no longer amusing ("Squirrel!").  And why didn't Russell, a young boy who accidentally came long for the ride, have a worried mother mounting an all out rescue mission to find him?  The one scene we even got of her was her smiling on at the end as Carl played father to Russell.  Really?  Your boy disappears for an extended time to South America, and you're going to just let him hang out with the old man who took him?  It just shucked reality and sense a little more than other Disney / Pixar projects.  Also, the short attached to this one was quite a bit goofier, in a not so good way, as the other shorts released with Pixar movies, though it was still somewhat charming.

     Was the movie worth watching?  Yes, of course.  Pixar has yet to make a bad movie.  Will it be remembered as one of the studio's best?  Probably not, at least in my opinion.

Prep & Landing lands gracefully

    Disney launched a new Christmas special this week on ABC called Prep & Landing.  I don't want to overplay it, but I think it will become an oft-rerun show.  It stars Dave Foley's (News Radio) voice as Wayne, an elf who has been on Santa's prep and landing crew, the advance team to prepare homes for the big guy, for well over two hundred years and is ready for a promotion.  He assumes he will naturally get one, but when he is passed over in favor of his partner, whom he trained, he loses his Christmas spirit.  Assigned a new partner, Lanny (Derek Richardson, Men in Trees), Wayne slacks off and disaster strikes.  Though it was only twenty-two minutes, Wayne still found time to save the day and remember what his job is all about, of course.

     The animation was reminiscent of Toy Story, and the humor is as well.  It brings to mind when Disney made good cartoons, as have been lacking lately, unless the Pixar name is attached as well.  Perhaps the company had something to prove before their new movie, The Princess and the Frog, comes out this Christmas.  If so, it was a good move.

      This special was totally appropriate for the entire family, and even us older people will find plenty to smile about.  The characters are fun, the pacing is perfect, and the story has heart.  Rounding out the cast are Magee, the control center elf, voiced by Sarah Chalke (Scrubs), and the little boy in the house, Timmy (Mason Vale Cotton of Desperate Housewives).  All in all, I do recommend it, and give it about an A-.  Check it out!