Pull-String Talking Jessie Doll: "The Round-Up Gang is Back in Town!"
Written: May 23 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Authentic looking, fun assortment of phrases
Cons: Gets dirty easily
The Bottom Line: Toy Story 2 fans, both boys and girls are guaranteed to cherish this fun-loving doll.
|
|
|
| Dr_Steph's Full Review: Thinkway 16" Pull-String Jessie |
As my previous reviews have indicated, my kids are all big-time Toy Story fans. They have the movies memorized, they play Toy Story CDs on the computer, and cherish any Toy Story toys they can get a hold of. The Pull-String Talking Woody Doll for Thinkway was such a huge hit with my youngest son that I naturally started looking around for similar Toy Story toys to fill out the collection. The obvious one that came to mind for me was the Pull-String Talking Jessie Doll.
Meet Jessie, the Fun-Loving Cowgirl
The Pull-String Talking Jessie Doll from Thinkway is 16 inches tall and is a spitting image of the abandoned cowgirl doll from Toy Story 2. Jessie has a round plastic head with a cheerful smile, brightly-opened blue eyes and raised eyebrows. Her long braided red hair, hands, brown cowgirl boots, removable red cowgirl hat, and brown belt are plastic as well. The rest of Jessie is plush fabric toy. She's dressed in blue jeans with black and white chaps, a long-sleeve white shirt with a yellow and red yoke and cuffs and a white collar, and a red hat. Only the hat comes off so there's no undressing Miss Jessie.
Like her buddy, Woody, this doll has a pull-string on her back connected to a large white hoop. Pulling and releasing the pull-string results in one of 10 different phrases (or vocalizations):
~ "YEE HAH!!"
~ "YODEL LE EEE WHOOO!"
~ "Hey, you gotta take care of yourself!"
~ "Hey, there's a snake in your boot!"
~ "HEE HEE HA HA HA!"
~ "Hi there! I'm Jessie!"
~ "Let's sing a yodel!"
~ "LO DE HO DE HAY LO DE HO DE HAY EE WHOOOO!"
~ "AH, HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
~ "The Round-Up Gang is back in town!"
Jessie has obviously been able to maintain an optimistic outlook on life, despite her abandonment by the girl who grew up (in the movie). She also speaks twice as many different phrases as Woody, which makes her quite a hit in our house. Her pull string is very easy for any child to operate and therefore has minimal frustration potential - that's important with my easily frustrated progeny.
This toy takes two AAA batteries (included). The battery compartment is tucked inside a velcro closed pouch on Jessie's back and is held closed with a tiny Phillips head screw. We haven't needed to replace the batteries, even after an incredible amount of yodeling and giggling over the past couple of months.
Has Jessie Finally Found a Home?
Yes, I think so. Though we bought the Jessie doll for our 4 1/2 year old daughter, the doll is also very popular with her younger and older brothers. Between the three of them, she gets more than enough attention. My oldest son (6) likes to listen to the pull-string phrases and practice throwing her hat like a Frisbee. My youngest son (almost 3) likes to collect all of his Toy Story toys together (including Jessie) and have "adventures" with them - behind the couch, under the bed, on top of the toy chest, etc. My daughter keeps her in a prized location on the shelf at the head of her bed, except when she's carrying her around in one of her dozen or so backpacks, purses, and suitcases - which is most of the time. Jessie was the one toy that she insisted in taking to Disneyland with her.
I'm really surprised that this Jessie doll has held up as well as she has. I think the key to longevity is to make sure she doesn't get played with (or left) outside. My daughter's friend from daycare has this same doll, except that this girl goes EVERYWHERE with her Jessie. Let's just say that her doll looks "well loved." The Jessie doll is actually very durable, but her white shirt does get dirty easily so my daughter's friend's doll has had dozens of sponge baths. Now her shirt is more gray than white. She still looks happy, though.
Just a side note…I had this doll out on the computer desk so I could write my review, and my youngest son grabbed her away and started swinging her around over his head. My daughter, who tends to be a bit possessive with her toys, screamed "Give me back my Jessie!!!" Her younger brother innocently replied, "It's OK, you wanna play with my Woody?" I almost spit my diet Coke all over the computer screen. Kids say the darndest things, don't they?
Dr_Steph's Recommendation
Like her Toy Story companions, the Pull-String Talking Jessie Doll is on the expensive side (usually goes for $18 to $22 new on eBay). However, every kid I know who has this doll, both boys and girls, adores her. And how could anyone NOT love sweet Jessie? All I can say is thank goodness the word "Jessie" doesn't stand for any anatomical features of the body.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 20
Type of Toy: Stuffed Toy
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.