Movie rating: 4 Star

Toy Story 3

It has been eleven years since Toy Story 2 and time has moved on for the audience and the characters: Andy is grown up and about to leave for college but what is he to do with his childhood toys? Woody (Hanks) is lobbed into a box marked 'college' but Buzz (Allen) and co. find themselves destined for the attic. A mix up leads the toys to be donated to a day care centre, headed up by Lotso (Beatty), a friendly bear, and Ken (Keaton), Barbie's playmate. However, the seemingly happy centre turns out to be a nightmare and it's up to Woody to save his friends before Andy takes off for good.

This long-awaited sequel was preceded by a hype any movie would find difficult to live up to, but Toy Story 3, despite not being the modern classic it has been made out to be, is still a damn good movie. The breathtaking action sequence towards the close, the only occasion where the 3D shines, realises what most movies fail to achieve - genuine peril for its characters. If a live action movie struggles to realise doom for its heroes, it's doubly so for an animated film and it's testament to Pixar's skill that they managed to pull it off. Pixar may wow with its animation and cute characters, but it's the quality of writing (this time by Little Miss Sunshine scribe Michael Arndt) and its attempts to explore subjects other animated movies wouldn't dare to that elevate them above their nearest rivals. Arndt sees Andy as a God to Woody, a parental figure that has now outgrown/forgotten his children; what Toy Story 3 poses is how can you stay loyal to a parent/deity who has discarded you? It's interesting to watch this theme play out.

Watch: Toy Story 3

Familiarity stops Toy Story 3 from being the movie it could have been: Lotso is a terrific addition but his wolf-in-sheep's-clothing smacks of Stinky Pete from 2, while Jessie (Joan Cusack) and Bullseye have little to do because their story peaked in the previous instalment (remember the song When She Loved Me?). It's a pity too that the climatic scene doesn't pull at the heartstrings the way it should and that's because the scene belongs to Andy, a character we never really got to know over the last fifteen years. It maybe his scene but it hasn't been his movie/trilogy and switching character focus at the last moment dulls the emotional impact of a scene that should have been the heartbreaker to end all heartbreakers. (That's not to say a few tears won't be hastily wiped away).

In terms of sustained quality, the Toy Story franchise has to be up there with the best... But surely that's enough now. It would be a shame to chip away at its near-perfection with lesser and unneeded sequels.

Review by Gavin Burke | 09:00 | Friday 16th July 2010 | Movie Review

Comments

• David

  Ask me to put a tag on my favorite of the three, I never could. But this one is really really good. I guess for some reason, with Jesse and stuff I thought Toy Story 2 stood out to me. I really feel like I need to go see this film again. People say it was emotional, heart-warming and I can honestly say without question, The Toy Story Trilogy are my favorite movies, of all time. I guess i'd say 2 & 3 would be my favorite, but in NO way am I putting down TS 1, because every single movie is amazing. This movie is funny, sad, and just makes me enjoy cinema. I would recommend you buy this film, keep it, and you watch, your Grandchildren in years to come will even adore this movie. Good job Pixar.

  Posted 03:33 | Sun 10th Oct 2010

• barkerl22

  my son loves this film!!!

  Posted 12:58 | Tue 12th Oct 2010

• Colette

  I enjoyed the movie and yes, I did cry at the end

  Posted 20:37 | Tue 12th Oct 2010

• Kevin

  Very good film for all the family but my five year old was scared during the recycling scene

  Posted 19:44 | Tue 12th Oct 2010

• Ozkennard

  Very entertaining movie, even for the adults. 3D version is great.

  Posted 18:43 | Tue 12th Oct 2010

• chell

  good but waited 10 years for that !! maybe could have being better??

  Posted 20:08 | Tue 12th Oct 2010

• leanne

  I was actually kind of disappointed to be honest. It wasn't as funny as the previous ones....

  Posted 09:15 | Tue 5th Oct 2010

• jostoes

  very good film,but bo peep was sadly missed! With no exclamation were excatly she went,or whom lost her..

  Posted 00:39 | Mon 4th Oct 2010

• John

  Very sad when Andy gives over the toys to a neighbour .not a a dry eye in the house in the end . it was great in 3D but the colours would probably look better in 2D. cannot wait for it to come out on DVD

  Posted 01:11 | Wed 13th Oct 2010

• Bjorn264

  very enjoyable movie. fun for all ages!

  Posted 16:22 | Wed 13th Oct 2010

• Lord Sabre

  I was a little disappointed with this. But it is one of the best trilogies around.

  Posted 16:06 | Wed 15th Dec 2010

Log in to leave a comment

Login or register to leave a comment

Enter your email:

Enter Password: Lost Your Password?