Movie Review: TOY STORY 3

Woody, Buzz and the gang return for the third installment of the secret life of toys in TOY STORY 3. Andy is all grown up and heading off to college. Through the years he has matured and needed his toys less and less. Only a few remain from the first film and they are preparing themselves for the worst…. being thrown away. Woody, ever the optimist, reassures the rest of them that Andy may have gotten rid of some of his toys, but he has kept them all this time. He tells them that they are “Andy’s toys” and that they will always be there when he needs them. The rest of the group is less hopeful, but try to follow their fearless leader. What does the future hold for them? And can they stay together?

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When was the last time that you weren’t blown away by a Pixar film? For me, it was TOY STORY 2. I just wasn’t a big fan of it. It was leaps and bounds better than most animated films that have come out, though I thought that is was a pale follow up to the first film. Good thing that the boys and girls at Pixar know how to book end a series. TOY STORY 3 lives up to the expectations of a trilogy. I feel that you should enjoy the first film in a trilogy, pick apart the sequel, then be happy with how it wraps up. It was great to see these characters again on screen and the story was very well thought out. I was extremely worried that this was an attempt to milk the franchise for the cash, but it was the total opposite. I think that we needed to see this chapter of the toys.

The great part about a trilogy like this is that we have all been there. We have all had toys and had to make the decision of how to part with them. Whether that be through throwing them away, giving them to siblings or friends, selling or donation. We have all been through it. It’s an interesting concept when you think about how your possessions feel about being cast aside. Pixar puts a good spin on the toys, especially Woody and Buzz, and what they believe their purposes to be. Woody feels that his job is to always be there for Andy. Even if that means staying in the attic until Andy has children and wants his kids to play with him. Buzz feels that his mission is complete. Andy played with him and now maybe it’s time to move on. It is a great dynamic between friends and their perception. And as the audience we get to see how Andy has grown up and how he see his toys. We have essentially watched Andy grow and you feel the weight of the decisions as he is trying to make them. It’s not like the film is all dramatic like Andy’s walking in the rain or seeing a priest about getting rid of his toys, but the subtle ways we see his thoughts are there.  The film truly tells a great story about moving on and letting go. Doing what’s best for yourself, while trying not to hurt those you love. Very deep for a kids movie.

I think that I was most impressed at the evolution of the animation process at Pixar as well. Watch the first film, then watch this and you see a vast improvement. I mean, the first film is 15 years old and it blew away audiences back then and now it’s even better. The way the bodies move and the facial expressions are just amazing. Obviously, they don’t look exactly like real people, which I think is great, but I want to say that they look more real that the previous films. I know that we all expected it to get better visually and it would have been ridiculous to think otherwise. I’m just saying that I appreciate the finished product.

The new movie is full of new toys and probably the best addition is Ken. I think that everyone saw it coming from the trailer that Ken,voiced by Michael Keaton, was going to be huge. I thought that he was the show stealer every time that he was on screen. It was so funny hearing him talk and see him move, especially when he dances a little bit. He moves like a Ken doll would move. No joints in the elbows or knees so he has a very distinct walk about him. Our main antagonist Lotso is a great villain. He is this cuddly old timer that smells like strawberries who basically runs the toy community at the Sunnyside Day Care. You really want to like him and kind of feel bad for his character. Plus, having Ned Beatty voice him makes him that more lovable. To have a great animated film you must have great voice talent.

I may sing the praise of the Pixar world a little too much to some, but I feel that they deserve it. I feel like every time I watch a film of theirs I learn something new about myself. Whether you cross oceans to learn how to let your children grow, fly across the sky to fulfill promises, or you just need to learn how to move on, Pixar has the best way to teach you.

Fanboyz Grade: A