Toy Story 3
By Nick Manteris · 0 Comments · Leave a Comment
Toy Story 3 starts on a high note and manages to stay on that level for the duration of the film. It opens with a cinematic battle between Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. Potatohead, Hamm, Rex and most of the other familiar toy characters from the franchise. The sequence is similar to the beginning of Toy Story 2, where things are presented from the point of view of the toys in their own “real” world…except –instead of a video game reality that is set in the Buzz Lightyear universe – the toys are interacting in a realm of pure imagination. It’s a great scene and since there are no limitations to imagination we get to witness the awesome power of a “monkey bomb.” (I’d really like to see a scene from this point of view from the imagination of the new character Bonnie.)
The original Toy Story was groundbreaking because it was the first completely-CGI feature-length film. It could have been a moderately successful film on that basis alone, but Pixar also thought to include a great story with a brilliant premise: toys come to life when people aren’t around. Toys are apparently also concerned with who gets played with the most and who is the favorite, we learn. In Toy Story 2, they find out that they can become obsolete – the toy version of mortality – and that their owners may eventually abandon them. This idea continues in Toy Story 3 with Andy, their now mostly-grown-up owner, preparing to leave for college. It doesn’t seem likely that Andy will take his toys to college and the only other options seem to be the attic, the trash or donation to a daycare. Most of the toys are subjected to all of these options, actually, but to say any more would detract from the discovery of the story. And it’s worth it – it’s safe to say that if you found either of the first two Toy Story films entertaining at all then you will really like part 3.
The audience came really, really close to getting a completely different Toy Story 3 than this one, but thankfully it didn’t happen. The first deal between Pixar and Disney split production costs and profits 50/50, but Disney retained exclusive rights to story and sequels. When (the almost direct-to-video) Toy Story 2 was still in production, Pixar and Disney had disagreements about the particulars of their deal and decided to part ways. At one point, Disney was planning to write and produce Toy Story 3 using a different animation studio…without the involvement of Pixar or anyone from the original movies. That story would have focused on a toy recall with Buzz being sent back to the factory and, based on Disney’s prior willingness to rape their own properties to make a quick buck on direct-to-video sequels, it probably wouldn’t have been that great. Luckily for everyone, Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, John Lasseter was appointed chief creative officer at both animation companies and the direct-to-video sequel policy was abolished.
- Score
- 9/10
All of the Toy Story films are instant classics and this one is the best of the bunch. It has more in common with the first film than the second – including a creepy baby doll bad guy – and it explores some darker themes. It may also be potentially scary for younger audiences in a few places, but, really, all the best children’s films are. Some of the most enjoyable parts of Toy Story 3 aren’t even for kids though: the rainbow-doored daycare becomes a metaphor for real life, all of the Barbie and Ken bits are perfect (if Little Miss Sunshine writer Michael Arndt had an Earring Magic Ken doll as a child that would explain a lot) and it has a nice reference to Return of the Jedi to go with the Empire Strikes Back reference from the second movie. The ending is slightly heavy-handed and overly sentimental, but it will probably only have a strong effect on the mostly-grown. (As I exited the theater I heard an older kid mention that it made him cry – and then quickly change his story when his insensitive friends sounded like they were going to make fun of him.) Toy Story 3 is a highly recommended, entertaining film that will will make you laugh and it's easily one of the best things that I've seen so far this year. Oh yeah, also: it might make you cry.
