You'll forgive me if I begin to gush during this review for Toy Story 3; I have a tendency to do so when I see films that are this good. It should come as no surprise that Pixar has once again delivered an amazing product. While I may not have appreciated all of their recent films equally, I have always been impressed with the care that is put into each film. Whether it's the heart-breaking tenderness of Up, the poignant themes of WALL-E, or the visual majesty of Ratatouille, each Pixar films finds new ways to dazzle the eye and move your heart.
This time around, we once again see growth; both figuratively and literally. Near the beginning of the film we learn that Andy, child owner of Woody the cowboy and Buzz Lightyear, has now grown up and is ready to head off to college. This is not only a major moment in Andy's life, but for his toys as well. They now face a change of scenery as well either leaving with Andy for college, being sent to the attic or gasp possibly being thrown out. Dealing with this change becomes a major focal point of the film and is handled well. It doesn't seem silly at all for the audience to be invested in the fates of these toys. Having two previous great films before it, we know the bond that exists between Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang with Andy. Both the characters and the viewers quickly realize that it's difficult to let go even when its necessary to move on.
The film also shows growth in the sheer size of its cast. Along with all of our favorite toys from the past two films, we meet an entire new crop of playthings when the gang gets sent to Sunnyside Day Care Center. There they meet Lotso-Huggin' Bear (voiced by Ned Beatty), who is the de facto leader of all the toys there. We also meet some other interesting characters including a deformed baby doll, a sassy octopus, and a Ken doll (voiced by Michael Keaton in a terrific performance). As we begin to get to know these new characters, we learn that they aren't as cheerful as they appear. The movie soon turns into a prison break caper that is a lot of fun, thanks primarily to its ability to take a plot mostly seen in adult thrillers and have it work so seemlessly in this children's movie.
Despite the large voice cast, I was pleased to see that it did not result in any one character getting the shaft. All of the terrific voice actors have the opportunity to contribute to the story and provide some great one-liners. Everyone seems to be having a great time returning to these characters, which doesn't surprise me in the least. And while it can be a thankless role, I definitely want to point out Tom Hanks' performance as Woody, which remains the emotional core of the film. He finds the perfect way to blend youthful exuberance with touching pathos as he interacts with everyone and organizes the plan to reunite them with Andy.
I mentioned the sentimentality of the film a couple of times now, which is one aspect that is getting brought up in national news. Many adults are finding themselves becoming emotional during the film, particularly in the film's closing moments. I too will admit to getting a little misty as I watched these toys progress to the next chapter in their lives. We learn that while individuals may grow up, there will always be a love for toys whether you're 8 or 88. While they may just be hunks of plastic or fabric, they have the ability to unlock our imagination and let us reclaim that youthful spirit. Thankfully, this film has been able to do the same thing.
One thing I want to point out is that I saw this film in standard 2D and loved it. While I can't personally attest to it, I have read other reviews, which said they felt that the 3D version really didn't add anything to the experience. It's up to you how you want to view it, but it seems you may want to just save yourself the few extra dollars and see it on a normal screen.
In hindsight, it would have been easy for the Pixar people to return to this franchise simply for the money grab. Instead, they maintained their level of quality and maturity and developed a worthy close to this franchise. I'll need some successive views to determine if this one is the best of the three, but I can say for certainty right now that it is as good as the first two entries. If you have seen and enjoyed their first two outings, I strongly encourage you to seek this one out as well. And if you've already seen it, consider going a second time. From what I've read, there are several easter eggs sprinkled throughout the film referencing Pixar films of the past and future (you can seen an image of a new character for the upcoming Cars 2 on a poster in Andy's bedroom). No matter what age you are, you're never too old for toys and you won't be too old for Toy Story. This is once again another masterpiece from our friends at Pixar. Grade: A
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