(WARNING - SPOILERS)
Everyone has a thing that they grew up with. Be it a toy, a backyard swing set, or a franchise. "I grew up with Pokemon". Or "I grew up with Harry Potter".
I grew up with Toy Story.
Literally, I grew up with the Toy Story franchise. I was born the year the first movie came out, I started preschool when Toy Story 2 came out, I started High School when Toy Story 3 came out, and I recently finished College when Toy Story 4 came out. Each new Toy Story movie seems to come out at a pivotal year in my life. (Who knows? Maybe I'll be on my death bed surrounded by my loved ones by the time Toy Story 10 comes out, only I will watch in on Disney+ in the comfort of my hospital bed.)
The first Toy Story was a pivotal moment in the history of animation, as it was the first ever fully CGI animated movie. Disney thought it would be a flop because they believed there was no way audiences would be able to connect with such a bizarre, uncanny medium. They said the same thing about another Disney animated movie that pushed grounds for animation, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. And just like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs did in 1937, Toy Story proved even its most stubborn critics wrong as it was a huge success critically and financially.
Just as the first Toy Story movie surprised everyone, so did every Toy Story sequel after it. Toy Story 2 was originally supposed to be a straight to DVD sequel, but surprised everyone by being one of the rare sequels that was just as beloved as the original. Toy Story 3 went even further and surprised everyone by being the rare third film in a trilogy that is as good, or better than, the previous two. All three movies made for a near perfect trilogy about a boy named Andy and his toys with an ending that made grown adults cry.
In fact, Toy Story 3 was such a perfect finale to the trilogy, that many people thought Pixar should just stop making more. Because where can you go from there? Andy gave his toys away to Bonnie and went off to college. It was the end of his childhood. What more can you do after that? What more is there to tell?
Well, that's the thing. If you view the Toy Story movies as the story of Andy, then yes Toy Story 3 is the perfect conclusion... to Andy's story.
But as the story of Andy’s toys, the ending to Toy Story 3 still left the door open for more adventures with them. As evidenced by the shorts and TV specials.
I grew up with Toy Story.
Literally, I grew up with the Toy Story franchise. I was born the year the first movie came out, I started preschool when Toy Story 2 came out, I started High School when Toy Story 3 came out, and I recently finished College when Toy Story 4 came out. Each new Toy Story movie seems to come out at a pivotal year in my life. (Who knows? Maybe I'll be on my death bed surrounded by my loved ones by the time Toy Story 10 comes out, only I will watch in on Disney+ in the comfort of my hospital bed.)
The first Toy Story was a pivotal moment in the history of animation, as it was the first ever fully CGI animated movie. Disney thought it would be a flop because they believed there was no way audiences would be able to connect with such a bizarre, uncanny medium. They said the same thing about another Disney animated movie that pushed grounds for animation, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. And just like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs did in 1937, Toy Story proved even its most stubborn critics wrong as it was a huge success critically and financially.
Just as the first Toy Story movie surprised everyone, so did every Toy Story sequel after it. Toy Story 2 was originally supposed to be a straight to DVD sequel, but surprised everyone by being one of the rare sequels that was just as beloved as the original. Toy Story 3 went even further and surprised everyone by being the rare third film in a trilogy that is as good, or better than, the previous two. All three movies made for a near perfect trilogy about a boy named Andy and his toys with an ending that made grown adults cry.
In fact, Toy Story 3 was such a perfect finale to the trilogy, that many people thought Pixar should just stop making more. Because where can you go from there? Andy gave his toys away to Bonnie and went off to college. It was the end of his childhood. What more can you do after that? What more is there to tell?
Well, that's the thing. If you view the Toy Story movies as the story of Andy, then yes Toy Story 3 is the perfect conclusion... to Andy's story.
But as the story of Andy’s toys, the ending to Toy Story 3 still left the door open for more adventures with them. As evidenced by the shorts and TV specials.
And because Toy Story 3 made $1 Billion for Disney, there was no way Disney was gonna look atall that money and go “Well. I guess that’s enough of Woody and Buzz.” As the years went on, I started to slowly accept that Toy Story 4 was not only possible, but inevitable. But I still thought that if they were going to make a follow up to an ending as perfect as Toy Story 3, they better havea REALLY good story in mind. One that feels important, poignant, and worthy of the Toy Story name.
After seeing it last night, I can safely say that ToyStory 4 totally justifies its existence. The Toy Story franchise is like a favorite toy of yours from your childhood that you keep locked up in the garage or in your closet. Every now and then it comes back, and you think you’ve outgrown it, but it still brings you joy and warm feelings.
What I love about Toy Story 4 is that it serves as so much more than a nostalgic cash grab. It feels like an important next chapter. It has something relevant to add to the story.
When you look at the first three Toy Story movies, they all tell a story about learning to accept what you cannot change in life. In the first movie, Buzz had to accept that he is a toy. And Woody had to accept that even if he’s Andy’s favorite toy, he won’t always be the only toy Andy loves, and that he needed to share Andy’s love with others. In the second movie, Woody had to accept that Andy will one day grow up and leave him, and he should just enjoy the time he has with him. In the third movie, Andy finally grows up and gives his toys away to Bonnie. Woody, Buzz, Jessie (Joan Cusack), and all the toys have to accept that Andy has moved on, and so should they.
Toy Story 4 feels like a response to the philosophy of the three movies that preceded it. Toy Story 4’s response is “Ok. There are things we cannot control and that sucks. But what are some things we CAN control? What are some things we CAN change?”
Even though the toys are sentient beings, they all have these rules for themselves that they follow: Humans can never know that they are alive. And making their kid happy is the most important thing in the world. And for alll three movies, the toys rarely questioned this. They explored this in Toy Story 2 when Woody considered leaving Andy to go to Japan and spend an eternity in a museaum. But it still ended with Woody going back to Andy and accepting his role as a toy. But Toy Story 4 goes further into this with the introduction of Forky, a sentient spork with pipe wire arms, popsicle stick feet, and google eyes voiced by Tony Hale andcreated by Bonnie.
Sporky is a special new character because it’s the first time in this series that we see a toy made completely from scratch. After Bonnie assembles him using arts and crafts in Kintergarden, Sporky comes to life and immediately questions everything around him. He used to be trash, and thinks that’s all he is. Woody tries to convince Sporky of his purpose to bring joy to Bonnie. Even though Woody is questioning his own purpose. In the last movie, Bonnie really loved playing with Woody. But in Toy Story 4, even though she still likes Woody, he’s not exactly her favorite. Woody won’t admit it, but it hurts him. It makes him feel as though he has no other purpose other than to make Bonnie happy. And if he can’t make her happy himself, he has to makes sure Forky stays with her to make her happy.
Along the way, Woody comes across his former love interest from the first two movies, Bo Peep (Annie Potts).
Bo Peep’s absense was immensely felt in Toy Story 3. Even though I missed her and was sad to see her gone, I also liked that the writers were brave enough to not bring her or all the other characters from the first two back. It added so much more weight to Toy Story 3, made the stakes feel higher, and emphasized how much everything was changing in the life of the toys. So when it was announced that Bo Peep was coming back,I was excited but also a little nervous. One, because many animated sequels have a habit of trying to cram in characters from the previous movies leaving them over-crowded. And two, I worriedit would cheapen Toy Story 3, by having characters come back.
But with Bo Peep in Toy Story 4, they were able to make her return feel important. She’s still her got her spunk and charm she had in the first two, but now she’s got even more confidence in herself and a lot more depth. She’s not just a love interest this time. She has her own arc and her own character moments.
But she still loves Woody. And as loyal as he feels to his duties to make Bonnie happy, he still loves Bo Peep too. At its core, Toy Story 4 is a love story. A love story between toys. Woody is left in a dilemma to either go back with Bonnie, or stay with Bo Peep.
Tom Hanks continues to bring so much emotion and warmth to the character of Woody. You can feel the love Hanks has for this role. As with Tim Allen as Buzz. Both Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have always been eager to keep returning to these characters, and it shows in their performances.
We see the return of many favorite characters such as Jessie, Bullseye, Ham the pig (John Ratzenberger), Rex the Dinosaur (Wallace Shawn), Slinky the Dog, and Mr. Potato Head (voiced by the late Don Rickles using old footage).
We also see many great new characters such asDucky and Bunny (voice by the always hilarious Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele), and the scene stealing Duke Canon, voice by the latest internet boyfriend, Keanu Reeves!
I don’t think anyone will disagree with me when Isay that Keanu Reeves needs to be in evey movie form now on. (Are you listening Marvel?)
Just as was the case with Toy Story 3, Toy Story4 has an ending that will make even the most cynical cry. The climax does not reach the same heart stopping thrills as the incinerator scene in Toy Story 3. But it doesn’t have to. The conflict thistime feels internal rather than external. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen both said they could not get through the final scene without crying. And when you see the movie, neither will you.
Toy Story 4 was everything you could ask for in a Toy Story sequel. It’s a hilarious, heartbreaking, heartwarming; and poignant film about love, letting go, moving on, and valuing your own happiness. And spending time with the ones you love. As a whole, the Toy Story movies are about how no matter how much things change, it’s the connections, the relationships we have, the friends we make, the memories we hold, the love we share that stay with us.
For infinity, and beyond....
