I can still remember the day the first Toy Story movie hit theaters. It is the one film I can say I have seen on the big screen the most number of times ever (seven to be exact). I was blown away by the clever writing, amazing visuals (especially for the time), and lovable characters. Not to mention how genuinely sincere, sophisticated, and emotionally resonating the overall story, and the themes of existence and acceptance were. Which is all the more impactful when you remember that even though it was mainly for kids, adults were able to enjoy and appreciate it just as much as the children if not more so. Then Toy Story 2 came along and not only successfully upped the steaks, it bravely went further and deeper into its mythology and came out all the stronger. Only until the release of Toy Story 3 did these characters reach their apex and, quite literally, faced the flames of hell ready to accept the ultimate end, only to find themselves entering a heartfelt and satisfactory conclusion, proceeded with a brand new beginning. It is for this very reason I consider Toy Story 3 to be PIXAR's magnum opus, and have always believed that there was no possible way they could ever come back to this world having given it such a powerful and emotional send-off.
And yet, PIXAR has not only returned to their roots, but they've done so with grace and love. Toy Story 4 is not just a surprisingly good movie; it is yet another proper sequel that reminds us why we fell in love with PIXAR in the first place. Taking an old friend of ours and continuing to find new ways to be creative, innovative, entertaining, and above all, enjoyable. While I have expressed my concern with the idea of a 4th installment of the Toy Story series, I am happy to report that all of my doubts and concerns have been addressed and put at ease. I will never doubt PIXAR's power ever again.
The story takes place a few years after the events of Toy Story 3. Woody (Tom Hanks) and the rest of the gang have been living a happy life having been passed down from their former owner, Andy, to their new owner Bonnie. We begin properly with Bonnie getting ready to attend the first day of kindergarten, where she makes herself a little friend named Forky (Tony Hale). A new toy made from arts & crafts. However, Forky is not convinced that he is a toy and feels that he truly belongs in the trash. Woody, not wanting Bonnie to lose her emotional support for school life, does his best to convince Forky that not only is he a toy, he is Bonnie's toy. As in her friend in his unique way. Things get even more complicated when, during a road trip, Forky jumps out of the car and Woody gives chase saying he'll meet up with the others at the next stop. Upon arriving at a small town with a Carnival, Woody stumbles into an antique shop where he meets up with his old flame Bo Peep (Annie Potts), who has been living on her own for a few years as a kind of toy Robin Hood helping lost toys find new owners. After reconnecting, Bo Peep agrees to help Woody find Forky and get back to Bonnie. That is, of course, if Woody truly does want to get back to her.
The movie is, overall, an enjoyable experience. There's not much else I can say about the film without spoiling too much. There is an amazing and genuinely heartfelt subplot involving a brand new character, who is worthy of an MVP award and is, arguably, the best part of the whole movie. All I will say about it is that it was the part of the film that made me cry and for a good reason. It alone makes the whole movie worth seeing.
The animation looks spectacular. PIXAR has always made good looking movies, but the advancements made in computer animation technology has come a long way. Everything from the lighting effects to the textures on characters and environments looks jaw-dropping. I don't know they utilized it in this film, but apparently, PIXAR has successfully created a program that emulates the visual effects of various brands of cinematic lenses. I can't say if this film utilized this advancement, but it would not surprise me if that was the case. There are moments when the visuals genuinely fooled me into believing it was not animated, which made the presentation even more immersive.
The whole cast, from the original characters to the newcomers, are incredible. Tom Hanks still delivers his likable and sympathetic portrayal of Woody front and center. His chemistry with Annie Potts as Bo Peep is uniquely entertaining. Speaking of Bo Peep, she is another character worthy of the MVP award. She is the most fun to watch, is performed with tons of energy and enthusiasm, and provides some satisfactory closure to an unanswered question dogging the series since the third movie. It feels great to have her back and in such an excellent capacity.
What makes this film so enjoyable is how much it avoids trying to one-up its predecessors. Rather than attempt to rehash old ideas or hit the reset button on its history, like most of Hollywoods content, Toy Story 4 honors and respects its elders by taking what they have learned over the years and going one step further. Toy Story 4 is proud of its history and doesn't try to push it aside. Instead, the film embraces where its been so it can better move forward to something new. As far as I'm concerned, I can gladly and wholeheartedly trust PIXAR to continue to deliver quality. Both in their original films and in their sequels.
Toy Story 4 is a rare and genuine surprise. Much like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the movie acknowledges all the concerns that the fans had and tosses them out the window in favor of something different and new. If you are a fan of the Toy Story movies, then you owe it to yourself to see this brand new installment. We all indeed have a friend in PIXAR.
Is this movie worth seeing?
Yes.
Is it worth seeing in Theaters?
Yes.
Why?
It is familiar yet fresh. A heartwarming story about love, joy, and childhood: please don't miss this one.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.
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