Toy Story 3

NO TOY GETS LEFT BEHIND! My Rating: ***1/2 - Good



The Toy Story series has captured the hearts of both critics and Pixar fans for the past eleven years. What was the appeal of these films? It wasn't necessarily just the entertainment. But it was the creativity, the originality, the jokes, the kid-friendly manner, and the pretty much all-age interest. The thing I love about Disney/Pixar movies is that they come in the FORM of just kid's movies. But they always entertain the little ones but I can tell that the adults see that something valuable was hidden in the film just for them. The story is actually good and interesting to an older audience. Even though watching the previews is not enough to see that, if you pay attention closely, you can see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. That was contained in the 1st and 2nd "Toy Story" and remains for the most part in "Toy Story 3". The plot has a pretty good set-up. Andy has grown up and is headed for college. But the question remains, "What is he going to do with all these toys?" Well, while he is deciding, the toys end up being thrown into a box of old toys being donated to Sunny side Daycare. At first the toys seem very happy about it. But, they soon find out that it isn't do great and must escape to get back to Andy before he leaves for college. It is an entertaining film and at least avoids the predictability flaw with new surprises around every corner. Whether it's jokes or action, it's certainly not boring. But what does the film lack? Well, it lacks the eerie humor of "Toy Story" and it also lacks the heartfelt mood of "Toy Story 2". The ideal "Toy Story 3" would be a combination of those two and adding in another one of it's own elements. But to my disappointment, it wasn't. I did not feel connected to the film very much throughout the film and I saw some small amounts of wasted potential. But the acting is good as always. Disney always casts their films very well. But I just wasn't feeling it the whole way through. I don't want to spoil it, so I won't but the ending was a good way to close the series, it's just that I felt like it lacked some closure. It was not a BAD ending, just could have been better. But the pixar films are usually very honest and straightforward. "Toy Story 3" is a truthful movie. The idea of Andy growing up and going to college is realistic(despite the fact that the series is about living toys). And as Woody and Buzz Light year & company state in the film, "We all new this day was coming." At some point this was going to have to happen. He wasn't going to stay like a kid forever. But I think the lesson here is to learn to let go. But "Toy Story 3" is a worthy volume in the saga. While it may not reach the level of other Disney/Pixar films like "Ratatouille"(2007) or "The Incredibles"(2004), It's not just a story that I know will go into the Pixar hall of fame, it's a TOY story.

starring: Tom Hanks Director: Lee Unckrich
Tim Allen