Toy Story 3
Directed by Lee Unkrich
Starring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenburger, Estelle Harris, Jodi Benson, and Laurie Metcalf.
Backstory
I love Pixar. I knew I would be running off to see their latest film, if it weren’t for one thing. It’s Toy Story 3. Why did we need a third one? What more was there to say for Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy’s toys? Had Pixar finally collapsed under their own genius are they ready to just lie back and pump out mediocre sequel after sequel? Only one way to find out: see the movie.
Plot
It’s been 10 years since we last we checked in on Woody, Buzz and the gang. Andy, their beloved owner, is now 17, fresh out of high school, and off to college. It looks like Andy’s toys are destined for a life of cold storage in the attic. But a mix-up leads the toys to believe that they are destined for the trash, so the toys decided to head off to the Sunnyside Daycare Centre. Daycare centres have a never ending supply of kids, so they’ll be played with and loved forever, right? Well, all is not as it seems, and Lots o Huggin’ Bear rules Sunnyside Daycare with an iron fist. Can the toys escape and make it back to Andy? Will life with Andy be any better?
What I Liked
As I’ve said many times before, I love it when an animated film goes down a dark corner and gives me something very unexpected. This film does go down a dark corner, takes some unexpected turns, and really packs an emotional whallop. As expected with Pixar, the animation is stellar. The voice acting is also fantastic, with Michael Keaton voicing Ken as a particular standout.
What I Didn’t Like
Well, being the third film, the plot does get a little bit familiar, especially in the middle parts.
Final Assessment
The fourth Pixar film in a row that made me cry at the end. A fitting end to the trilogy.