This is, of course, the big prequel direct-to-dvd movie setting up for the show. Often these projects can go awry and end up flat and lame, like with Return of Jafar or the failed Beauty and the Beast or Atlantis pilot movies.
However, in this case, Pixar and Disney managed to pull it off shockingly, spectacularly well. The animation is well above your typical 90s-era Saturday Morning TV budget look, with great dynamic, fluid movements for all the characters, wonderful expressions and surprisingly great action sequences.
The characters are pretty broad; the bold hero Buzz, the strong female lead Princess Mira Nova, the comic relief 'funny guy' XR, and the bumbling but well-meaning Booster, etc.
What sets them apart is the voice actors. Of course, Tim Allen was brought in to dub over Patrick Warburton's unique line reads, and he did it magnificently. If anything, I much prefer Allen's takes than Warburton's in this case. We've also got stellar talents like Larry Miller, Steven Furst, Nicole Sullivan and the crown jewel of the whole cast, Wayne Knight as Zurg.
Combine that with fun dialogue, a silly but simple and easy-to-follow plot, and some hilarious exchanges between the characters, and you've got a really fun movie for kids of any age, 3-99yrs.
8 stars, one of my childhood favourites I still revisit.
However, in this case, Pixar and Disney managed to pull it off shockingly, spectacularly well. The animation is well above your typical 90s-era Saturday Morning TV budget look, with great dynamic, fluid movements for all the characters, wonderful expressions and surprisingly great action sequences.
The characters are pretty broad; the bold hero Buzz, the strong female lead Princess Mira Nova, the comic relief 'funny guy' XR, and the bumbling but well-meaning Booster, etc.
What sets them apart is the voice actors. Of course, Tim Allen was brought in to dub over Patrick Warburton's unique line reads, and he did it magnificently. If anything, I much prefer Allen's takes than Warburton's in this case. We've also got stellar talents like Larry Miller, Steven Furst, Nicole Sullivan and the crown jewel of the whole cast, Wayne Knight as Zurg.
Combine that with fun dialogue, a silly but simple and easy-to-follow plot, and some hilarious exchanges between the characters, and you've got a really fun movie for kids of any age, 3-99yrs.
8 stars, one of my childhood favourites I still revisit.