Since then, Woody has been struggling to come to terms with the fact that he's no longer the favourite toy like he was with Andy. Taking a big risk, Woody hides in Bonnie's backpack as she attends her kindergarten orientation, and discreetly provides her with some crafting materials, including a plastic spork he fishes out of a bin. Bonnie uses the materials to create "Forky" who unexpectedly comes to life in her backpack. When Forky goes through an existential crisis and keeps trying to throw himself away, Woody finds a new purpose in helping him adjust to life as Bonnie's favourite toy. When Forky is lost during a road trip, Woody leaves to get him back. During this journey, he re-unites with his old flame Bo Peep, who was given away by Andy's sister nine years earlier, and now walks the earth helping lost toys find owners. At an antiques store, the group meets Gabby Gabby, a pull-string doll with a faulty voice box, voiced by Christina Hendricks. Gabby soon covets Woody's voice box, and takes Forky hostage to get it.
This is a pretty solid sequel. I especially think it's nice to see Woody go full circle. In the first film, he's jealous of Buzz Lightyear, and fears he's going to be replaced as the favourite toy. This time, he tries to ensure that Forky stays with Bonnie. But if anyone steals the show, it's Bo Peep. She kicks a lot of ass, especially against the creepy-as-hell ventriloquist's dummies which serve as Gabby Gabby's henchmen. Christina Hendricks is also pretty good as Gabby Gabby. Defective out of the box, she yearns to become owned by the antique store owner's granddaughter, Harmony. Her villainy is actually downplayed. Yes, she takes Forky hostage, but she treats him well, and their discussions still make her sympathetic. And unlike Lotso, she actually does earn a redemption.
Another great character is Duke Kaboom, a Canadian stunt rider toy voiced by Keanu Reeves. He's cocky, but he's also suffering a major crisis of confidence after being disposed of by his original owner when he didn't live up to the standards of his TV advert.
I also think there's a lot more humour in this one. In one early scene, Woody refers to his conscience as his "inner voice" in a conversation with Buzz. This prompts Buzz to take the phrase "listen to your inner voice" literally, using his built-in phrases to guide his actions when he sets out to find Woody. It becomes a running joke, but it unusually seems to work out.
If there's anything which tops that, it's the arrival of conjoined carnival plush toys Ducky and Bunny, voiced respectively by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. There's a scene where Buzz has to obtain a key to the glass cabinet where Gabby is holding Forky. Ducky and Bunny suggest three increasingly hare-brained schemes to obtain the key by jumping the store owner, all of which are rejected by Buzz. It's then revealed they did obtain the key...because the owner left it in a saucer right next to their hiding place.
One rather sad part of the story occurs behind the scenes: Don Rickles had expressed interest in reprising his role as Mr Potato Head when the film was first announced in 2014. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2017. Instead of recasting him, Pixar utilised unused audio footage from the previous films and video games.
All in all, it's a worthy sequel.
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