In a lot of ways, sequels reveal more about the strength of the original than any amount of repeated viewings. Without the requisite introductions, meet-and-greet and initial character developments, the strength of the core cast is stripped bare. They're left to prove their worth in the great wide open, and what successes or failures they find can be a great judge of their quality.

In Toy Story's case, Woody and Buzz's second adventure is definitive proof of what a deep, colorful yarn Pixar had actually sewn in their first feature-length effort. The troupe doesn't even stop for a breath as they plunge right into topics that range from emotional attachment and the importance of a family unit to isolation and abandonment. Of course, such weighty subjects aren't addressed pointedly; instead they're gracefully interwoven into the backdrop of a bright, rousing Incredible Journey-styled venture through the city in search of an important stolen toy.

Stuffed with throwbacks that are sure to elicit cheery memories of the original, this sequel is also loaded up with new material that's every bit as charming. Though I wouldn't quite put it on the same level as the first film, and I felt that the messages of the recent third chapter are more poignant, it still sits near the top of Pixar's portfolio.