Toy Story 4 review

TOY STORY 4: 

FOURTH “TOY” OUTING IS AN EMOTIONAL POWERHOUSE AND WORTHY (POSSIBLE) CONCLUSION TO THIS ACCLAIMED ANIMATED SAGA!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: **** out of 4

DISNEY/PIXAR

(From left to right) Benson, Gabby Gabby, Benson (again), Bo Peep, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Forky, Ducky, and Bunny in Toy Story 4

            The toys that revolutionized animation and filmmaking all the way back in 1995 are back in Toy Story 4, the latest installment of Pixar’s Toy Story franchise beloved by critics and audiences alike. The first film released in 1995 was a groundbreaking technical achievement as the first fully computer-animated feature film that not only was a huge hit with critics and audiences but also the movie that made Pixar Animation Studios a household name.

            Like many kids, Toy Story was a huge part of my childhood, I used to watch the movie many times on video, had toys of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Rex, R.C., and Zurg, as well as some computer and video games, and I even had some Woody the Cowboy pajamas that I used for a Woody Halloween costume…cheap and lazy? I know, but to be fair I was like 5. So yeah, I loved Toy Story when I was a kid, and can you really blame me? With its stunning animation that (mostly) still holds up today, a colorful cast of characters both plastic and fleshy, and its ability to take a simple premise of what toys do when kids aren’t around and make it plausible and even turn something as basic as escaping from the next door neighbor’s house into an adventure. 

            Toy Story was a hit when it first came out and earned a Special Achievement Oscar for its animation as well as two equally amazing follow-ups in 1999 and 2010. The second film introduced Jessie the Cowgirl and Bullseye from the fictional Woody’s Roundup TV series and the plot point of the toys’ owner Andy growing up and when the third film came around eleven years later, it was the main plot and ended with one of the most touching endings in recent years.

            Nine years since the release of Toy Story 3, we have this fourth installment that had many moviegoers having doubts. The third movie was a perfect conclusion to the series and a fourth film might damper the franchise’s success (Cars 2, anyone?). 

            Luckily, we were all wrong, Toy Story 4 is terrific and a worthy installment of the franchise. Granted I still consider Toy Story 2 to be the best in the series but none of them have ever been disappointing, including this one.

            The film is set two years after Andy gave his childhood toys to Bonnie (voiced by Madeleine McGraw) and left for college and follows Woody the Cowboy (voiced by Tom Hanks-Big, Forrest Gump, Cast Away), Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen-Home Improvement, The Santa Clause trilogy, Wild Hogs), Jessie (voiced by Joan Cusack-Working Girl, In & Out, Shameless), Bullseye, Rex (voiced by Wallace Shawn-The Princess Bride, A Goofy Movie, The Incredibles), Mr. Potato Head (voiced by Don Rickles-Run Silent, Run Deep, Kelly’s Heroes, C.P.O. Sharkey), Mrs. Potato Head (voiced by Estelle Harris-Seinfeld, Out to Sea, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody), Hamm (voiced by John Ratzenberger-A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., Cars trilogy), Slinky Dog (voiced by Blake Clark-The Mask, Boy Meets World, Rango) and the rest of the toys enjoying their new life with Bonnie. One day after Bonnie’s kindergarten orientation and literally creates a new friend named Forky (voiced by Tony Hale-Arrested Development, Chuck, Veep), her family decides to go on a road trip. 

            Believing he is not a toy and that he belongs in the trash, Forky jumps out the window of the RV and onto the street with Woody following. Woody tries explaining to Forky that he’s the most important toy to Bonnie although Forky still has his doubts.

            While on their journey to a nearby RV park that Bonnie’s family will be staying at, Woody and Forky come across an old antique shop managed by a creepy doll with a broken voice box known as Gabby Gabby (voiced by Christina Hendricks-Mad Men, The Romanoffs, Good Girls) with even creepier dummy henchmen who wants Woody for his voice box, but Woody and Forky are soon rescued by an old friend, Bo Peep (voiced by Annie Potts-Ghostbusters franchise, Pretty in Pink, Designing Women). Bo agrees to help Woody and Forky get back to Bonnie but along the way Woody may have second thoughts. 

            The film also features the voices of Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele (Key & Peele, Keanu) as Ducky and Bunny, Keanu Reeves (Speed, The Matrix trilogy, John Wick trilogy) as Duke Caboom, Ally Maki (10 Things I Hate About You (TV series), Step Up 3D, Wrecked) as Giggle McDimples, Jay Hernandez (Crazy/Beautiful, Suicide Squad, Magnum P.I.) and Lori Alan (The Fantastic Four (TV series), SpongeBob Squarepants, Family Guy) as Bonnie’s parents, Bonnie Hunt (Jumanji, The Green Mile, Cars trilogy) as Dolly, Kristen Schaal (30 Rock, Bob’s Burgers, Gravity Falls) as Trixie, Carl Weathers (Rocky franchise, Predator, Arrested Development) as Combat Carl, Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, ParaNorman) as Buttercup, Timothy Dalton (James Bond franchise, Jane Eyre (1983), Hot Fuzz) as Mr. Pricklepants, Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid, Flubber, Ralph Breaks the Internet) as Barbie, and Pixar veteran Jeff Pidgeon as the Pizza Planet Aliens. 

            Overall, Toy Story 4 is a beautifully animated, funny, and emotionally deep installment of the Toy Story franchise that proves us all wrong when the film was first announced. Did we really need a fourth Toy Story movie? Well, after seeing the movie yes, we did but we just didn’t know it yet. 

            Unlike the previous three films where it was mostly about their owner growing up, Toy Story 4 focuses on the toys, particularly Woody and his struggles with trying to let go of his kid and learning that kids lose their toys all the time and maybe that can be a good thing. 

            The animation is gorgeous and has come a long way since 1995, more details added to hair and clothing particularly with Bo Peep’s outfit, she looks more alive than in the earlier films. Sometimes the animation and character designs and movements lead to some of the funniest moments in the entire film, most notably the Canadian stuntman toy Duke Caboom, his movements almost resemble stop-motion or William Shatner, has a self-obsessed personality, and is a giant metaphor for Keanu Reeves’ career right down to including one of his trademark quotes.

            If I have to nitpick something about Toy Story 4 is that there isn’t much screen time with the other toys aside from Woody, Buzz, Bo Peep, and the new characters. With the exception of Jessie’s side-plot as becoming the new sheriff for Bonnie, none of the other toys impact the plot. 

            Toy Story 4 is my go-to family/animated movie of the summer that hits all the right emotions with plenty of fun and nostalgia along the way. Whether a kid or adult, this fourth “Toy” outing will take you to infinity and beyond…and then back around again.