But enough talk, let's get started! And what is the movie? None other than Toy Story 3!
Cast:
Tom Hanks as Woody
Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear
Joan Cusack as Jessie
Ned Beaty as Lots-O-Huggin' Bear
Don Rickles as Mr Potato Head
Blake Clark as Slinky Dog
Wallace Shawn as Rex
John Ratzenberger as Hamm
Estelle Harris as Mrs. Potato Head
Jodi Benson as Barbie
Michael Keaton as Ken
Plot: It's been years since Woody and the gang have been played with. Their numbers have been thinned by yard sales and spring cleanings, and now only the core group remains: Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, Slinky, Rex, Hamm, the Aliens, And the Potato Heads. With Andy now all grown up and preparing to head to college, the gang prepares for a long wait in the attic, until better times come around. But in a freak accident, Buzz and the others end up on the street curb and nearly tossed in the garbage truck, much to Woody's horror. Despite Woody's insistence to the contrary, he, along Jessie and the others donate themselves to Sunnyside Daycare, where they meet Lots-O Huggin' Bear, a kindly toy who shows them the joys of playtime at Daycare. Sunnyside seems to be a veritable paradise for toys! Until Woody leaves to return home, and in his absence, the true nature of Sunnyside is revealed...
Review: Trilogies are dangerous things. When an excellent motion picture is made(In this case, Toy Story), there is always demand for another. If not by the viewers, then atleast those in charge demand a sequel, as they can see dollar signs. Rarely does a sequel end up being better than it's predecessor. However, Toy Story 2 was one of the few to ever break that rule. Pixar, unlike many companies(atleast for a period of time) cared about the quality of their work and made sure to give the series the love and devotion it needed to succeed. And their results were obvious, as Toy Story 2 is considered even greater than the original film.
Now remember, Toy Story 2 was released in 1999. It took Pixar eleven years to make a sequel. A third movie, with such a gap between it and its forerunner, is likely to be a disaster.
Trilogies are dangerous because in three movies, one is usually considered a black sheep(Spiderman 3, X-Men 3 Pirates of the Carribean 3, The Dark Knight Rises), or worse, the trilogy just isn't very good at all. But every once in a while, a trilogy comes along that is simply stunning from beginning to end. Toy Story 3 caps off the Toy Story series in a marvelous way that few movies ever do, and brings a sense of closure to the series.
First, take a look at the anmation of the film. Animated films usually suffer from being outdated(as the film eventually became), but Toy Story 3 is a blast of lurid colors and design straight from the get-go. The characters are extremely detailed, from their stitches to even how the characters walks and moves. The environments are colorful and vivid when they need to be, or grim and harsh if the scene needs to be.
A great point of a trilogy can be references to previous material. Not only does Toy Story 3 come off a plot point raised in its predecessor, but also has some wonderful references to earlier lines, and even a cameo appearance from Sid, who was in the original Toy Story(Hint: look at the garbage truck guy's shirt. It's the same skull design).
Earlier on in the film's production, a plot line discussed was that of Buzz being part of a toy recall and taken away, and needing to be rescued by Woody, Jessie, and the others. It was an interesting idea, but too similar to Toy Story 2. What we got instead was a rather dark and serious plot, unusually serious when one considers this is a film for children. Add in Lotso's obsession with the futility of being and their eventual deaths, you have something that's pretty harsh considering the film's target audience.
Not that the movie is doom and gloom. It IS Pixar, so there's plenty of clever, witty laughs to go around. The usual smart humor we expect is evident, and enjoyable for everyone. And I might consider Spanish Buzz the funniest gag in any Pixar film.
And of course, there are the characters themselves. We've grown up knowing Woody and Buzz and the gang, so we already feel an emotional attachment to them before the film is started. Once the action starts, we feel like we're among familiar friends, smooth and enjoyable. we also get some fresh material in the form of Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear and Ken, the two brightest newcomers that join the fray. Pixar has a lot of faces walking around in Toy Story, and none of them feel unnecessary or poorly done.
But definitely, the critical moment of the entire movie is its ending. Ending a great film is difficult, as sometimes they can be saturated, watered down or overly sappy. Instead, the film ends on a gentle, tender note that seals the series in a perfect way. As the screen goes black, we really do feel like we've come to the end of a spectacular journey, and though a new one has begun, our times as observers in this story is now done. as Andy drives off, so do we, thankful for the time we got in a superb franchise.
The Bottom Line: Toy Story 3 is a great film, touching upon a strong note: When we try to take control and decide our own fate, we usually end up making a mess, and dealing with dangerous consequences of our failings. Instead of trying to make our way ourselves, perhaps we should trust that we are cared for and loved. Cause we are not abandoned, and we are most certainly not junk. We are valued, and we will be taken care of, even if it takes a bit to get there.
Well, that wraps it up, people! I'll be back Wednesday, with Number 14! Keep reading, they're only getting better.
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