Review: TOY STORY 3

TOY STORY 3 is the fitting end to a very memorable trilogy of family-friendly films, enjoyable by kids of all ages. Now, the trick is for Disney Pixar to resist the temptation of all the money this film will make and NOT make a fourth.

The TOY STORY saga has three distinct chapters. The first film deals with Andy’s favorite toy Woody feeling threatened by the arrival of the more modern hi-tech toy Buzz Lightyear and he must come to terms with learning to share his owner. The second film has Woody being stolen by a toy collector, but finds he’s tempted by the allure of being immortalized in a toy museum while his friends struggle to rescue him. Woody ultimately learns the importance of family and a little humility along the way. Finally, TOY STORY 3 brings the cycle of childhood full-circle with Andy learning to let go and move on.

With the first two films being pure fun and adventure with just a hint of drama, TOY STORY 3 ramps up the emotional hook on the viewer as we watch Woody and friends cope with the idea of being left behind as Andy prepares to leave home for college. In the process, Pixar still delivers on the fun and adventure and it’s just as energetic and hilarious as the previous two films.

TOY STORY 3 opens on Woody playing the part of the heroic cowboy, riding his trusty horse Bull’s Eye alongside his cowgirl counterpart Jesse. Woody is attempting to thwart a train robbery being committed by One-Eyed Bart (Mr. Potato Head) and his little green one-eyed Martian minions under the employ of the insidious mastermind Dr. Pork Chop. What’s different is that it’s all real, or at least it’s real within Andy’s imagination.

This is a great lead-in to the emotional punch that is carried throughout TOY STORY 3. Our peek inside Andy’s imagination transitions into old home video footage of Andy at play with his beloved toys. Cut to Andy, now a typical 17-year old, more interested in his computer than the toys he grew up with, which are now stuffed away in an old toy chest. Andy’s mother makes him sort his room into two categories… things to keep in the attic or take to college with him and things to toss and/or donate. Thus begins the adventure…

Which brings me to an interesting parallel TOY STORY 3 has to another classic film called THE GREAT ESCAPE. Once Woody and his friends find themselves donated to Sunnyside daycare, they realize something isn’t quite right. Woody makes his escape after splitting from his friends in favor of rejoining Andy at college, but his conscience draws him back to save his friends from the well-mannered but devious Lotso’Huggin’ Bear (Ned Beatty)… that smells of strawberries. There’s a wonderful element desperate action as Woody is constantly working by the seat of his pants to facilitate an escape from their evil captors. Similar in theme, TOY STORY 3 also ventures loosely into some other cinematic indulgences, one of the most noticeable being the moment of redemption for Darth Vader in RETURN OF THE JEDI when he turns on his master to save his son. See if you can pick out the similar scene in TS3.

All the favorite characters return, with Tom Hanks voicing Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jesse, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Wallace Shawn as Rex and John Ratzenberger as Hamm. However, TOY STORY 3 ramps up the fun with some new characters including Jodi Benson as Barbie and Michael Keaton as Ken, a comical chemistry that nearly stole the show. Of all the laughs throughout the film, I give Keaton credit for producing the deepest, hardest belly chuckles of the film.

TOY STORY 3 incorporates many sight gags, character quirks and witty dialogue spurting rapid-fire intelligent pun usage. Perhaps the most original and overwhelmingly sustained laughter-producing moment is during the elaborate escape plan when Mr. Potato Head must alter himself to carry out his mission, in turn transforming into a “slimmer” somewhat “floppier” version f himself. The character needs not say a thing, the sight gag is so effective on it’s own that the audience will simply lose it.

Finally, one of the most extraordinary elements of TOY STORY 3’s success is the absolute brilliance in conveying its story and message so effectively to the entire audience, both young and old. Sure, adults were laughing and even crying in some cases, but the observation I found most amazing while sitting in a large, packed theater surrounded by hundreds of little kids, was that they ALL got it, completely, demonstrating a wide range of vocal emotional responses from laughter to fear to excitement to sadness… it was all there.

On that note, I highly recommend seeing TOY STORY 3 in a packed house, preferably with a maximum number of children in attendance. This is not normally something I would recommend, but given this is not just a kid’s movie but also a film enjoyed by all ages that really connects to kids in a noticeable way, making the entire experience much more enjoyable and rewarding.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars