Review: Toy Story: Collapsin' Cowboy Woody
I don't consider myself wholly devoted to any one toy company, and I don't currently have a favorite. That said, when I walk into a Toys R Us or the toy section of a Target, I almost always dash over to Mattel's DC Universe Classics or Justice League Unlimited figures. They're a toy company which has demonstrated, again and again, that they understand how to make a collectible figure that will delight kids and grown-ups alike.
Last time, I reviewed Mattel's Space Wings Buzz Lightyear, which I found a tad disappointing. I picked him up on sale, but there was a catch: I had to buy two figures to get the deal. Rather than buy an alternate Buzz or one of the minor characters, I decided to get a Woody, as well.
Now, right off we need to acknowledge that there are some issues turning Woody into an action figure that didn't exist with Buzz. Woody isn't supposed to be an action figure, at least not in the current sense of the word. He's really more of a doll, with sewed arms and legs and stuffing.
That said, there's no reason Mattel couldn't have made a really cool action figure version of the character. Let's see how they fared.
Last time, I reviewed Mattel's Space Wings Buzz Lightyear, which I found a tad disappointing. I picked him up on sale, but there was a catch: I had to buy two figures to get the deal. Rather than buy an alternate Buzz or one of the minor characters, I decided to get a Woody, as well.
Now, right off we need to acknowledge that there are some issues turning Woody into an action figure that didn't exist with Buzz. Woody isn't supposed to be an action figure, at least not in the current sense of the word. He's really more of a doll, with sewed arms and legs and stuffing.
That said, there's no reason Mattel couldn't have made a really cool action figure version of the character. Let's see how they fared.
Appearance and Construction: 6/10
I really like the sculpting of the head on this figure: I'm not sure it's right-on, but it's certainly a decent likeness. The paint is clean here, as well, though I think there should be more shading in his face. Also, on the right side of his head there are some issues around the molding line.
As we move on to the torso, things get worse. While the work here isn't awful or necessarily even bad, it feels simplistic. I appreciate that this is supposed to look like a toy, but it should look like a BETTER toy than it does.
Overall, I like the look of the arms and legs, though they should have been a little better. In particular, the boots look incredibly cheap.
If anything, things are a little worse when we factor in construction. In order to facilitate the action feature, the toy is hollow in spots.
Now, from a few feet away, the toy looks okay. But he's really just average or a little better. I expected better from this company.
As we move on to the torso, things get worse. While the work here isn't awful or necessarily even bad, it feels simplistic. I appreciate that this is supposed to look like a toy, but it should look like a BETTER toy than it does.
Overall, I like the look of the arms and legs, though they should have been a little better. In particular, the boots look incredibly cheap.
If anything, things are a little worse when we factor in construction. In order to facilitate the action feature, the toy is hollow in spots.
Now, from a few feet away, the toy looks okay. But he's really just average or a little better. I expected better from this company.
Packaging and Extras: ----
Woody's packaging is more or less the same as Buzz's. I like the look, though, once again, something more character specific (perhaps utilizing the designs from the sequel) would have been preferable:
The one area where Woody exceeds Buzz is accessories. Buzz came with nothing, but Woody does slightly better, coming with a removable hat.
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It certainly isn't amazing, but it works well enough on his head and allows him to be displayed with it on or off.
I'd also have liked some other toys. There's no reason I can imagine for not including some miniature green soldiers here: those aren't so expensive that Mattel couldn't have dropped a few in. While Woody still feels light to me, the hat is just enough to save him from a deduction. |
Play and Display: -2
We'll start with the action feature, and to explain that I'll have to first explain what this toy is. Woody has six joints, none of which are actually connected. Instead, he's held together by thin string running through his body. When you tilt his head forward, the string goes loose, and the figure - in theory - collapses. When you pull the cord in Woody's back, the string tightens and the toy becomes stiff once more.
First off, credit where it's due, with one BIG issue, this works like it's supposed to. I'll get to that issue in a moment, but even that isn't a problem with the mechanism but something else. Tilt the head, and Woody looks like he does in the picture above. Pull the string, and he looks like the other photos. The string locks in place, and I haven't had any problems yet.
First off, credit where it's due, with one BIG issue, this works like it's supposed to. I'll get to that issue in a moment, but even that isn't a problem with the mechanism but something else. Tilt the head, and Woody looks like he does in the picture above. Pull the string, and he looks like the other photos. The string locks in place, and I haven't had any problems yet.
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Now. About that issue.
One word: balance. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get Woody to stand up without leaning him against something. And, believe me, I tried. This is a serious issue in the best of circumstances, but here it pretty much renders the action feature moot: what use is collapsing if he can't stand in the first place? In his non-collapsed form, Woody has very limited articulation. His shoulders, elbows, and the tops of his legs function like cuts. Granted, that gives you a few poses - tipping his hat, being one of the better ones - but not many. Also, don't think he can hold the hat: it's too heavy for his loose joints. The largest disappointment is the head: it's entirely unarticulated. There were a lot of sacrifices made for an action feature that's mediocre at best. I'm deducting two points for the articulation and balance. I toyed with the idea of going up to three. |
Price Tag and Final Analysis: 4/10
Frankly, Woody isn't very good. I'd have far preferred a conventional action figure, with standard joints and decent balance, to this thing. I appreciate that Mattel wanted to make these toys, but... it's not really much in that category, either.
That said, this isn't bad as a figure for display, provided you accept the poses you've got and are willing to prop him up. Alternatively, he's actually not too bad in his "loose" form: you can sit him down against a wall and he looks all right (just be aware that the strings are visible).
But he's not worth ten bucks or even the seven-fifty I paid. In fact, I wouldn't recommend him at more than three or four bucks. If I'd known what he was going to be like, I'd have picked up Buzz for ten bucks: that would have been a better deal than getting them both for fifteen.
Actually, I'm being a tad disingenuous. I don't think he's WORTH what I paid, but I'm actually glad I got him. Why? Well, come on back to the Bin on Monday, and you'll find out.
That said, this isn't bad as a figure for display, provided you accept the poses you've got and are willing to prop him up. Alternatively, he's actually not too bad in his "loose" form: you can sit him down against a wall and he looks all right (just be aware that the strings are visible).
But he's not worth ten bucks or even the seven-fifty I paid. In fact, I wouldn't recommend him at more than three or four bucks. If I'd known what he was going to be like, I'd have picked up Buzz for ten bucks: that would have been a better deal than getting them both for fifteen.
Actually, I'm being a tad disingenuous. I don't think he's WORTH what I paid, but I'm actually glad I got him. Why? Well, come on back to the Bin on Monday, and you'll find out.
Don't forget to stop by my blog, The Middle Room, in the off chance I've put up something new!
