Der tapfere kleine Toaster als Retter in der Not

"The Brave Little Toaster" was a film I saw many times in my childhood. It came out the year after I was born, but the two sequels it spawned came out much later, in the late 90's, and I didn't even know about them until years later, when I found them on IMDb. Just over a week ago, I watched the 1987 original again, for what I believe was my second viewing since the 90's. After that, I intended to finally watch the two direct-to-video sequels. Apparently, "The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue" was released after the other sequel, "The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars", but takes place before it. For that reason, I decided to watch this one first. While I think it's better than some fans of the original do, it didn't surprise me when I saw that it was another inferior sequel.

The appliances' "master," Rob, is now a college student, studying to become a veterinarian, and is now nearing the end of his final semester. He still has his entire treasured collection of appliances from when he was a kid (Toaster, Blanky, Kirby, Lampy, and Radio), and keeps them (with the exception of the lamp) at the veterinary hospital where he treats animals. Rob is almost ready to graduate, as he is very close to finishing his thesis on the computer, when suddenly, he loses it all when the computer crashes and he hasn't saved any of it! It doesn't help when his relationship with his girlfriend, Chris, runs into trouble. Meanwhile, Mack, Rob's bitter lab assistant, is secretly working against him and planning to sell the animals to a testing laboratory! So, the appliances have another problem on their hands when they find out about this scheme, and now must also try to save their animal friends!

One reason why this "Brave Little Toaster" sequel is inferior to its predecessor is the plot, which isn't quite as interesting or adventurous as that of the original. The appliances stay in the same place for most of this film and don't go on the kind of epic journey they did before. The film also doesn't quite have the eerie feel to it that's part of what makes its predecessor so good. Some new characters are introduced here, such as the animals the appliances share a room with, and the master's evil lab assistant, Mack. There's at least one new character I didn't care much for, and that was Ratso, around the beginning, though I think he improves after that. I didn't find the songs in this sequel to be all that memorable, though I've only heard them once. I can't forget to mention the humour. I did laugh at times, but definitely not as much as I did when I last watched the original. For example, the Radio isn't as funny here. I guess he's not the same without Jon Lovitz providing his voice, though he still has his moments. Despite the flaws, this movie does have amusing gags, plus a bit of suspense and some mildly poignant moments, though none of it is consistent enough to make for a really good family film.

"The Brave Little Toaster" was released by Disney, but produced by Hyperion Pictures, so it isn't really a Disney flick. However, just like a number of theatrical animated Disney movies, it got the direct-to-video sequel treatment. I haven't seen all of Disney's direct-to-video sequels, but the ones I have seen have lead me to believe that most of them aren't really that good, and tend to show a significant drop in quality from their theatrical predecessors. Basically, that's also the case with this sequel to the barely theatrical 1987 Hyperion Pictures production. Some parts of this one are pretty good, and I found that it improves along the way, leading to a satisfying ending, but there's definitely something missing from the original. If you're a fan of the underrated 1987 movie, you might like to see "The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue", but I guess there's a good chance you won't like it at all, and if that's not the case, you could easily end up thinking of it as a mixed blessing, like I do.

It is my favorite of the three Brave Little Toaster Movies and we finally get the whole story. This one puts the story line of all three movies in perspective. Wittginstein the old computer is a great character and we meet Ratso who introduces us to him. My three year old got if for Christmas and just loves it.

The set-up for the original Brave Little Toaster movie was strangely plausible despite its weirdness, because of the themes revolving around these abandoned appliances, and while some of those themes are recaptured in both its sequels, the same depth or magic is lacking and the missions they embark on seem too far fetched in comparison (don't get me started on their trip to mars).

But here their master, Rob, is studying to become a veterinarian and takes care of a group of animals while he is finishing his thesis. He also tries to keep up with his girlfriend, so the movie is half about those two and our gang of appliances and the animals whose lives end up in the hands of a dangerous friend of Rob's.

His villainous role is not hidden at all, and you know it from the start. We also get a nice take on what the internet is which leads to some interesting moments and a touching action from Radio.

But yeah, the same problems occurs in this sequel as in the next one. The setting is a little too far fetched, even though it still retains some of the darker passages like in the original, and the songs are forgettable and some of them out of nowhere.

A tad better than the next sequel, but lacks the magic of the original.

I love The Brave Little Toaster, it is funny with a great atmosphere and a likable story and characters. Neither of the two sequels are bad as such, but both are lacking in the first's charm, but both are watchable compared to other animated sequels I have the misfortune of seeing(ie. The Secret of NIMH 2:Timmy to the Rescue).

I do think The Brave Little Toaster is too short, consequently the story is rather predictable and rushed and lacks the haunting and eerie yet charming. The new characters are a mixed bag, Mack is interesting in a way as is Wittgenstein, but Ratso starts off a little bland and superfluous. The songs aren't as memorable, and while Radio has his moments he is not as funny or as sweet.

That said, the animation is good enough, the colours are quite nice and the characters are drawn well. The characters are still very likable, I liked some of the suspense and while not as funny or as poignant here the writing did at least make me laugh and cry. Another plus is the voice acting, which is really very good.

In conclusion, a watchable sequel but lacking. 6/10 Bethany Cox

I saw this film a long time ago compliments of my mother. The Brave Little Toaster and her friends go to rescue animals from a vet who plans to send them to a testing laboratory. Kirby denies anything is wrong with his friend Sebastain but Kirby soon discovers what's under Sebastian's bandage. There we're problems in the computer area while Rob was finishing his 600 page theis homework. Toaster and her friends actually get to learn about the internet. Radio was blamed for stealing something that goes to a computer.

So check it out