Toy Story 2

Sequels aren't supposed to be better. Somebody forgot to tell Pixar.

I walked into this one figuring it'd be a fun victory lap and instead got something that punches harder than the original. The story, the emotions, the adventure: it's all dialed up a notch. Every notch, really.

Sequels aren't supposed to be better.

Buzz and Woody back at it together is exactly the reunion you want, and the movie knows it. They've got the chemistry, the bickering, the heart. You could watch these two argue about anything for two hours and I'd be happy.

Jessie's introduction is a home run. She slots in like she's always been there, and the movie is better the second she shows up. Ditto with Bullseye.

And Big Al? Hell of a bad guy. Greasy, gross, perfectly hateable. You want the toys to win because you want HIM to lose.

Seeing this in a theater absolutely made it better. The laughs hit harder when a room full of people are laughing with you, and the quieter moments land heavier when nobody's checking their phone.

This one stuck with me on the walk out. Pixar didn't just clear the bar, they raised it.