When Toy Story 3 ended with Andy giving his toys over to Bonnie, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house, especially those of parents. Kids growing up tend to be a crying point for moms and dads.
My first thought, when part 4 was announced, was how could they top part 3? It ended so perfectly, with Andy growing up and moving on from his toys. I also heard it was going to focus on a love story between Woody and Bo Peep. Again, this brought the thought of how could this be a worthwhile follow-up to the perfect ending of 3.
You know what, though? Pixar almost NEVER lets its audiences down, and they’ve never had a Toy Story misfire.
Well, Pixar scored again. Toy Story 4 was excellent. Woody continues trying to take care of everyone. Bonnie. The other toys. Everyone. For the first time since his jealousy of Buzz in part 1, though, we see Woody puts everyone and everything ahead of himself and his own happiness.
Enter the flashback of when Bo Peep, Woody’s lost love interest, left the group. I have to admit not noticing she wasn’t in Toy Story 3. However, her reason for being gone and her story of adjusting to life as a “lost toy” were really cool. She became kind of hardcore during her absence!
Woody runs across Bo by chance while off on this movie’s adventure. His reason for adventure this time around was to take care of another toy that didn’t believe it was a toy, same as the first time we met Buzz. This one, though, is a craft Bonnie made on her first day in kindergarten which is really important to her because she’s not adjusting well to school. Whereas Buzz thought he was really a space ranger, Forky thinks he’s trash and keeps trying to run away or throw himself away.
So, our hero, Woody, goes off to save him.
Buzz lovers don’t distress, though, because he goes off to save Woody and still has a big part to play in the movie. Some of the most hilarious lines, in fact, belong to Buzz as he struggles to understand Woody’s explanation of an inner voice. Buzz, you see, seems to not have an inner voice, but he does have a push button of recorded sayings!
New fun characters voiced by Keanu Reeves and Key and Peele (together again) are fun additions to all the old favorites including Slinky Dog, the Potato Heads, Hammy, and Rex And, of course, there's Tony Hale's Forky which weirdly often steals the show..
The whole movie continues a theme that runs throughout all the Toy Story movies, that of personal growth. In part one, Woody needed to understand that Andy could love more than one toy. Buzz needed to understand he was a toy. In 2, Woody discovers his origins and continues his personal growth. In 3, Andy himself grows up and, in doing so, gives the toys renewed purpose with a new child.
4 is no different. We get to see Bonnie growing, adjusting to kindergarten. The movie’s “villain”, Gabby Gabby, has a really interesting story of personal growth as well, and it’s touching to watch.
Then, there’s Woody. No spoilers here, but his growth and adjustment continue in a wonderful way. The ending may not be quite the tear jerker that part 3 ended with, but it’s close. There’s a line, delivered by Buzz that silenced the theater when it happened.
Great ending to an amazing movie.
I’ll say it seemed final. Then again, though, so did part 3. So, who knows what the future holds. I don’t see how a part 5 would work, but if Pixar makes it, I’m in.
Rated 5 out of 5
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