Most Pixar movies follow this pattern. Most Pixar movies in the beginning were buddy pictures, some that were not follow this pattern I am about to talk about. This pattern is having at least the lead characters were one star that usually did sitcoms before the film and one star usually known for movies, even if they did a sitcom in the past (like Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies). The film star could have also be a comedian and the sitcom star could had previously be a stand-up comedian as well.
1. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen
Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3
Tim Allen has a sitcom now ("Last Man Standing") but before Toy Story, he was famous for the sitcom ("Home Improvement" now reruns on Hallmark channel). After Toy Story, he did films (The Santa Clause, Zoom, etc.). Tom Hank was best known for Philadelphia and Big. Tim Allen started out as a stand-up comedian.
2. Dave Foley and Kevin Spacey
A Bug's Life
Dave Foley was known for the sitcom "News Radio" on NBC that also starred Phil Hartman and Andy Dick. Kevin Spacey was known for the movies The Usual Suspects and A Time to Kill, he also did TV shows like L.A. Law. Even though they were not buddies in the picture, they serve this example. Julia Louis-Dreyfus was also in the film and best known for the sitcom "Seinfeld."
3. John Goodman and Billy Crystal
Monsters Inc, Monsters University
Billy Crystal, a stand-up comedian was best known for City Slickers and Princess Bride at the time. John Goodman was mostly known for the sitcom "Roseanne" at the time, even though he did The Big Lebowski before Monster Inc but it was a cult hit. He has done more films since then.
4. Ellen DeGeneres and Al Brooks
Finding Nemo, Finding Dory
Ellen DeGerneres, a stand-up comedian best known for the sitcom "Ellen" at the time and Al Brooks, best known for comedy films such as Modern Romance (1981), Lost in America (1985) and Defending Your Life (1991). Ellen now has her talk show.
5. Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter
The Incredibles
Craig T. Nelson was best known at the time for the ABC sitcom "Coach." He did do The Poltergiest before that. Holly Hunter, soley known for her movies such as The Piano, Broadcast News and The Firm. After the film, she later did the TNT drama "Saving Grace." They played a married couple, it wasn't a buddy comedy but a family action film.
6. Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy
Cars and Cars 2
Owen Wilson is best known for Starsky and Hutch, Wedding Crashers, Meet the Parents and The Royal Tenenbaums. Larry the Cable Guy, a stand-up comedian did the comedy show "Blue Collar TV" on the WB.
7. Patton Oswalt and Ian Holm
Ratatouille
Even though Ian Holm wasn't part of the buddy pair of Remy and Liguini (who was played by production artist Lou Romano), they kind of serve this purpose. Ian Holm (Lord of the Rings, King Lear and The Fifth Element) played Skinner. Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia) played Anton Ego and is a film star. Janeane Garofalo is also a stand-up comedian but not a sitcom star. Brad Garrett is best known for the sitcom "Everybody loves Raymond." Patoon Oswalt, the star as Remy is a stand-up comedian and was in the sitcom "King of Queens."
8. Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer
Up
Ed Asner is best known for the sitcom "The Marry Tyler Moore Show" and Christopher Plummer for films The Night of the Generals, The Return of the Pink Panther, The Man Who Would Be King and the 1969 classic Lock Up Your Daughters.
Wall-E and Brave did not follow this pattern. Wall-E did have film stars and some comedians but the main characters barely spoke. Brave had relatively unknowns in the United States.
