Toy Story 3 (2010) Disney/Comedy-Adventure RT: 103 minutes Rated G (mild violence, some rude humor and innuendos, scary/upsetting scenes) Director: Lee Unkrich Screenplay: Michael Arndt Music: Randy Newman Cinematography: Jeremy Lasky and Kim White Release date: June 18, 2010 (US) Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Blake Clark, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton, Jodi Benson, John Morris, Jeff Pidgeon, R. Lee Ermey, Bonnie Hunt, Timothy Dalton, Kristen Schaal, Jeff Garlin, Laurie Metcalf, Bea Miller, Emily Hahn, Lori Allen, Erik von Detten. Box Office: $415M (US)/$1.067B (World)
Rating: ****
It had to happen sooner or later. It happens to all kids. Andy has grown up. He’s off to college and must decide what to do with his old toys. That’s the springboard for the events of Toy Story 3, the third chapter of the successful franchise centering on a group of toys that walk, talk and have adventures. Yes, they’re alive, but it’s no secret to anybody who’s been following these wonderful computer-animated movies from Pixar. And they are filled with wonder.
It would appear that Toy Story has grown along with its central human. Toy Story 3 tells a slightly more mature story. It’s also darker than its predecessors. It contains scenes that might bother some smaller viewers, but its heart remains in the right place with its message about friendship. It’s also funny and entertaining and very imaginative.
Like I already said, Andy is all set to leave for college. He’s starting a new chapter of his life, but first he has to say goodbye to his old friends in his room. Well, all but one. He plans to take Woody (Hanks, Forrest Gump) with him. He can’t leave his best friend behind, can he? That leaves Buzz (Allen, The Santa Clause) and the rest of the gang. What happens to them? Andy initially plans to store them in the attic, but life has different plans for the toys.
Long story short, the toys all end up at a daycare center where they’re warmly received by the leader, a pink and white teddy bear named Lotso (Beatty, Superman I & II). Thinking it might not be so bad, after all there are lots of kids to play with them, they all decide to stay. All except for Woody who tries to make his way home in time to leave with Andy.
No surprise, it turns out the daycare is a total nightmare factory. The toys end up in the toddler room where they’re treated roughly. It gets worse. Lotso runs the place like a police state. No toy is allowed to leave. Those who resist get tortured. When Buzz attempts to negotiate with him, Lotso brainwashes him by having his hench-toys reset him to demo mode. Now he’s one of the bad guys preventing his frightened friends from escaping.
Meanwhile, Woody is found by a little girl named Bonnie (Hahn). She’s a little firecracker, this one. She loves to play with her toys. She has an active imagination. Woody has a great time playing in her room with her other toys which include master thespian hedgehog Mr. Pricklepants (former 007 Dalton), blue Triceratops Trixie (Schaal, Bob’s Burgers), unicorn Buttercup (Garlin, The Goldbergs) and sassy Dolly (Hunt, Beethoven 1 & 2). Then he learns what’s really going on at the daycare. He decides to return and stage a jailbreak.
A lot has been said over the years regarding the ending of Toy Story 3. I’ll confirm that it’s a real tearjerker. It involves finally letting go of childhood playthings, but not throwing them away. They can be passed on to the next generation. There’s always another kid who understands the idea of imagination. It’s a beautiful end to a beautiful story and the beginning of another. What Toy Story 3 does is nothing short of brilliant.
What else can I say about Toy Story 3? It’s a terrific three-quel! Directed by Lee Unkrich (Coco), it continues the franchise’s signature highlights of first-rate computer-animation and brilliant voice casting. This installment was presented in 3D and it looked great. It made the toy characters even more tangible. But even without it, it still looks amazing. It’s just so colorful and lively even in its darker moments. Yeah, you might have to reassure your little ones at certain points. That monkey with the clashing cymbals gave me the creeps and I’m grown!
Beatty is a great addition to the cast. Only an actor of his caliber can make a malevolent character sound so convincingly benevolent. Michael Keaton (Batman) also joins the cast as a Ken doll who becomes the love interest of Barbie (Benson, The Little Mermaid). You have to love this guy’s wardrobe. It spans the decades. Blake Clark (The Waterboy) replaces the late Jim Varney as Slinky Dog. He’s just as good. The rest of the cast continues to crush their roles.
I have to give a special shout out to Allen for how he plays the different versions of Buzz, namely the good Buzz and evil Buzz. Oh, let’s not forget Spanish Buzz. He’s hilarious. Hanks, as usual, brings warmth to Woody as he navigates the next stage of his life. He’s having a hard time accepting that his kid is now grown. What’s he to do now? Well, I actually already answered that.
Toy Story 3 won a well-deserved Oscar for Best Animated Film. I’m glad to see it got recognized. I like to think the Oscar is for all three movies. They’re all GREAT! Unfortunately, the Academy didn’t add the category until 2002. Better late than never, right?
