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(More customer reviews)So, if you're looking to buy this new Barbie and Ken "Toy Story 3" 2-pack, you are either buying it as a plaything for a kid or as a collector of Toy Story or Barbie memorabilia. If you're buying it as a plaything, great, there's nothing to complain about except for one issue. This set DOES NOT come with the accessories shown. That's the gym bag, water bottle, and whatever that little pamphlet is supposed to be. An exercise guide, I guess. No, while I THINK those items do come with the solo version of this TS3 Barbie, the two-pack is bare-bones. You just get Ken and Barbie in the outfits shown. They are your standard Ken and Barbie dolls with hair and clothes designed to look similar but not exactly like what we see in the upcoming Disney/PIXAR sequel, "Toy Story 3". It's a great two-pack to get the two iconic love birds in one set, just know that the accessories are false advertising. You don't get them in this "Made For Each Other" gift set.
Now, to address Disney and Toy Story fanatic collectors like myself, this pair is not a Toy Story Collection Certificate of Authenticity item, and therefore is waaay off model from what we see in the film. Similar in some ways, yes, but not perfect if that is what you require. I have lately reduced much of my Toy Story collection to just the Certificate of Authenticity "replica" toys and the best items I can find of characters not available in that TSC line. I mean, I've gotten rid of my kids' meal toys and other merchandise, most of it anyway, to simply go for the purest type of Toy Story collection with the most accurate representations. I have the Toy Story Collection C.O.A. Buzz, Woody, Aliens, RC, Army Men Bucket, Potato Head, and Rex. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Jessie and Bullseye (undecided about getting Lotso so far), and have also supplemented that line with the Disney Store Slinky Dog (removed the string) and the new, Disney Store, REAL Hamm piggy Bank (with the real cork and all, go now and get yours!), and just bought a standard Ohio Art Etch-A-Sketch today. I even got the beautifully done Woody's Round-Up toy guitar (thankfully, the retro packaging doesn't even say "Toy Story" on this one! I hope they do come out with the harmonica after all, too!). And another non-C.O.A. item I added to my collection today was this Ken and Barbie set. I'm somewhat happy with it, though I'm tempted to seek out a pair of '80's Ken and Barbie dolls and put these outfits on them, since the ones in the film do seem to have a more '80's look. Though Mattel attempted to recapture Ken's '80's hair here, they kept the modern Ken and Barbie faces. So, already, not a film match. But it doesn't stop there. Their outfits are also quite different. There seems to have been an attempt to make Ken look a little less silly on the actual toy than in the film. As goofy as his outfit looks here, it looks way goofier in the movie trailer, with bigger shorts rolled up higher, a far more open shirt, and a turned up collar that is sewn down on the actual doll. Barbie's outfit looks different as well. It's basically the same except for one big difference. On this actual doll, it is a very shiny, shimmery material. It doesn't really appear that way in the movie trailer. So, bottom line, these are not perfect film replicas, however, they're probably the closest thing we'll see in terms of the clothes, and if the face inaccuracies really bother you (the differences are probably pretty subtle if you are not prone to picking up on this sort of thing), you can always switch outfits with some older dolls. I'll make due with these as is for now, though it IS a shame they didn't flare out Ken's shorts as much as they are in the film. They almost look like a skirt, and it's totally hilarious when you see him shuffle out on unbending legs.
Basically, great toy set for just toy purposes and an okay but far from perfect addition to a Toy Story collector's display. For myself and my Toy Story collection, this pair was a must buy, even though I greatly wish they were more accurate. But, with Jodi Benson's heavenly voice behind the gorgeous Barbie in the Toy story films, I HAD to have her in my group (especially after missing the Tour Guide Barbie from years ago), and Ken is just going to be too hilarious in this movie! Just remember, despite all the pics, you don't get those accessories in the 2-pack!
UPDATE, June 23, 2010: It has come to my attention recently that the Ken and Barbie featured in Toy Story 3 are based on actual Ken and Barbie dolls released in the 1980's. If you are a hardcore collector and want the most film accurate versions, the originals are much more accurate than these nice but too inaccurate modern recreations. So, true collectors, what you're looking for is Animal Lovin' Ken and Great Shape Barbie. I wish I had the spare cash to seek them out myself right now, as the price is sure to skyrocket on auction sites in light of this info, but right now I'm looking for a job! Good luck to the rest of you!
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