Toy Story 3
Movie Review
"Toy Story 3"
Review by Eric D. Snider
Grade: A
Rating: G
Released: Friday, June 18, 2010
Directed by:
Cast:
I don't want to oversell this. I waited a couple days after seeing the movie before writing the review, to give myself time to collect my thoughts and present them without hyperbole. If I talk it up too much, your expectations will be impossibly high, and you'll wind up being disappointed.
So here goes: "Toy Story 3" is the greatest thing in the history of ever.
No, crap, that's too much. Come on, Snider, there are things in this world that are better than "Toy Story 3." A mother's love for her child, for example. That's hard to beat. And America. We have our problems, but America is overall pretty fantastic. If I had to choose between America existing and "Toy Story 3" existing, I would definitely choose America.
But if I had to choose between "Toy Story 3" existing and every other movie I've seen this year existing, I would choose "Toy Story 3." In attempting to describe it, my skills as a writer fail me -- AND I AM A VERY GOOD WRITER!!
The movie is funny, of course, but not just funny: hysterical, witty, clever, visual, verbal, highbrow, and lowbrow, employing slapstick, wordplay, spoof, and homage. It takes the first two movies' themes of friendship, childhood, and imagination and builds on them, going to greater heights and profounder depths. It's awe-inspiringly intelligent and complex, yet also light, exhilarating, and effortlessly entertaining. Movies sometimes make me cry, and they sometimes make me laugh till I cry, but I can't remember the last time the same movie did both.
It's been 11 years since "Toy Story 2," and that's about how much time has passed with our beloved anthropomorphic playthings. The toys' owner, Andy (voice of John Morris), is about to leave for college. He hasn't played with Woody, Buzz, and the gang in ages, but they're still in his room, along with the other remnants of his youth. (Side note: Imagine the horrors those toys have witnessed while dwelling in the bedroom of a teenage boy.) And since he isn't taking them with him to college, his mom (Laurie Metcalf) wants him to do something with them -- put them in the attic, sell them on eBay, throw them out with the trash, anything.
This is what happens when you grow up. Your mom expresses astonishment at how quickly the time has passed, and you have to do something with your old stuff. The problem for the toys, of course, in this improbable yet somehow relatable universe, is that they don't get older. They don't outgrow their owners. What becomes of the childhood things when the child is gone?
In this case, instead of being safely stored away in the attic, the toys mistakenly wind up at a daycare center called Sunnyside. The silver lining is that Sunnyside looks like paradise. It's full of kids who will play with them every day -- a key to a toy's happiness -- and who are replaced by new kids when they age out of daycare. The toys will never have to worry about being abandoned again. Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear (Ned Beatty), the strawberry-scented plush teddy who leads the playthings at Sunnyside, explains it thus: "No owner means no heartbreak."
Oh, but something doesn't sound right about that. Woody (Tom Hanks), forever loyal to his owner, thinks they need to get back to Andy's house before he leaves for college. Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head (Don Rickles and Estelle Harris), Slinky Dog (Blake Clark, replacing the late Jim Varney), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), and Rex (Wallace Shawn) think Andy doesn't want them anymore -- and besides, Sunnyside is fantastic. Barbie (Jodi Benson) has extra reason for wanting to stay, having already met a boy doll by the name of Ken (Michael Keaton).
Some elements of the plot are echoes of "Toy Story 2." Woody is temporarily separated from the group; rescue missions are devised; the perilous climax recalls the dizzying airport sequence from the last film. It doesn't feel like a retread, though. Quite the opposite -- it feels like a culmination of the series' themes, like the first two films were merely laying the groundwork for this final, epic adventure. If there isn't a "Toy Story 4," this will serve as a joyously satisfying conclusion.
The director is Lee Unkrich, his first solo flight after co-directing "Toy Story 2," "Monsters Inc.," and "Finding Nemo"; he and Pixar gurus John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton are credited with the story, with the actual screenplay by Michael Arndt ("Little Miss Sunshine"). Several of the new toy characters will be instant favorites. I already mentioned Ken, whose passion for Barbie is matched only by his passion for clothes; there's also a Chatter Telephone (Teddy Newton), a clown doll (Bud Luckey), a unicorn (Jeff Garlin), a triceratops (Kristen Schaal), and a hedgehog, Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), who fancies himself something of a thespian. There is also a cymbal-clanging monkey that made me laugh very, very hard.
That a movie about talking toys could be enjoyable is a no-brainer. That a movie about talking toys could address weighty existentialist themes in a poignant fashion, and that audiences could come to love these characters and sympathize with their plights -- well, who told Pixar they could do that? To make action scenes that are genuinely thrilling and suspenseful, even though we know everything's going to turn out OK in the end -- who would have thought that was even possible? I see action movies all the time whose flesh-and-blood characters never convince me they're in any real danger, and here I am wide-eyed with giddy tension over the fate of some toys -- and not even actual toys, but cartoon drawings of toys!
How is every emotion, high and low, conveyed so gracefully and organically, without a hint of contrivance? How does a G-rated family film become a sophisticated combination of "The Great Escape" and "Animal Farm" without going over young people's heads? How does a movie delight 5-year-olds as thoroughly as 35-year-olds? None of these things are possible! And yet here we are!
Pixar has pulled off this kind of feat so regularly that it shouldn't be a surprise anymore -- and yet somehow it still is, every time. That's part of the magic, part of why I'm certain Pixar is staffed by warlocks and sorcerers who have access to all of humanity's creative gifts. How else does the third entry in a franchise not just match but in some cases exceed the accomplishments of its predecessors? Part three is where you're usually just in it for the money, where no one expects much. But while I'm sure the Pixar people enjoy raking in cash as much as anyone, never for a second does "Toy Story 3" feel like it was made specifically for that reason. From start to finish, in every last detail, it feels like a labor of love.
And that's why it's the single greatest thing mankind has ever produced.
Sorry, I went overboard again. But really. It's very good.
(Note: While the 3D is used effectively and unobtrusively, there's no reason to pay the extra money to see it that way. You'll get just as much out of it in two dimensions.)
Grade: A
Rated G, with a little rude humor, the usual peril and adventure
1 hr., 43 min.
Copyright © Eric D. Snider.
This work may not be transmitted via the Internet, nor reproduced in any other way, without written consent from Eric D. Snider.
This item has 30 comments
June 18, 2010 at 12:40 am
I watched the original Toy Story with my kids a few days before I took them to TS3, and the leap in animation is unbelievable. TS3 pretty much blows anything else off the screen. I think the tortilla sequence and the dance sequence at the end was put in just to let everyone else know how far ahead Pixar is from the rest of the crowd.
And the Day & Night short was pretty awesome, too.
June 18, 2010 at 7:48 am
I'm pretty sure I'm even more excited to see this than my three-year-old is, and she's been asking to see it ever since we saw the first trailer! Pixar = genius.
June 18, 2010 at 9:07 am
You WILL cry. I don't care who you are. I feel like a rite of passage has ended. Toy Story had such a huge effect on culture, and saying goodbye to these characters is suprisingly HARD! I felt like I was Woody and the movies were Andy.
How can this be so funny, so lovable while also SO dark and SO spiritually and emotionally complex? I'll challenge anyone who says this was anything less than a perfect trilogy. Where Shrek 3 was servicable, this is in loyal service of.
"Where's your kid now, Sheriff?!" Tackling religion? Wow. Do you love your family enough to be there for them even at times when they don't need you anymore?
This could be an educational film for both helicopter parents and adolescent adults.
The toy cameo speaks to the devotion Pixar has to the craft of storytelling and the ideal of mutual respect.
Saw in 3D Imax, with an excited crowd. The extra technology is (in my opinion) thankfully unnecessary and completely dwarfed by the energy of the audience.
Thank you, Pixar!
June 18, 2010 at 9:32 am
Toy Story has been a family favorite since it came out when I was a toddler. We have SOO many stories about Toy Story. I'm going with friends to see it tonight, and I am beyond excited. I had to read your review to get me in the mood -- success! I got more and more excited as I read the whole review, but I had to stand up and do girlish giddy-squeals when I saw the name Timothy Dalton -- I have loved him ever since I saw him in the BBC Jane Eyre miniseries from the 80s. I can hardly WAIT until 8 PM tonight!
June 18, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Beautiful, simply beautiful. My only complaint is that the Big Baby character made my three-year-old cry. But they were tears of sympathy, not fear, so...yeah. Pixar = Genius.
For me, Ken absolutely made the movie. His every groovy line and stiff-jointed movement cracked me up. We need more Ken shorts on YouTube, Pixar! ;)
June 19, 2010 at 1:54 am
It was fantastic. I'd still rank Toy Story 2 as the best of the three, but this was a really great way to end the series (assuming it will indeed end now). I should have seen the resolution at the dump coming, but it still surprised me when it hit and felt really powerful in combination with the scene of them all holding hands together leading up to that. What a great moment, among many in the film. Bravo yet again, Pixar.
June 19, 2010 at 8:29 am
I agree 100% with the review - absolutely amazing film. The "Jessie's Song" sequence in TS2 always gets me teary-eyed, even the 100th+ viewing on DVD, but there must have been 3 or 4 times in TS3 that got me the same way. Which is slightly embarrassing as a 33 year old male, but whatever! It was also a wonderfully memorable first trip to the theater with my 2 1/2 year old daughter.
June 19, 2010 at 10:16 am
Spot-on review; the only thing on which I disagree is the monkey. I thought nothing could top the horror of Sid's room coming to life in the first "Toy Story," but that monkey sure proved me wrong.
I was also surprised and delighted to see that Bonnie owns a Totoro plush. :D
June 19, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Cole Smithey Responds to "Toy Story 3" Defenders
After beating Armond White to the punch of upsetting "Toy Story 3's" perfect 100% RottenTomatoes score I realize how fascistically fetishistic RT readers are about things like protecting a "perfect score" for a movie.
What's more surprising to me is how few "critics" exercise the demands of their job description. There isn't a film I can think of that doesn't have detractors, so why should "Toy Story 3" be any different? That I had to come along behind 150 "critics" to be the first one to speak out about the film's weaknesses, and they are many, speaks volumes.
I have young nieces and nephews with responsible parents who are very sensitive to what their kids see. I could not in good conscious endorse "Toy Story 3" as a G-rated film that meets their criteria.
On top of that, Hollywood is currently changing the game on what audiences should expect from a "3-D" movie in order to charge higher ticket prices. As a critic, I've had the luxury of seeing many "3-D" films, and know what that medium should deliver on a consistent basis. Again, I cannot endorse the watered-down version of "3-D" that Disney/Pixar is selling with "Toy Story 3."
As for all of the personal attacks that readers make in their rude e-mails to me, I understand that people need to let off steam, especially in these very difficult times. It goes with the territory of being a critic who takes his job seriously.
June 19, 2010 at 6:23 pm
to Cole Smithey:
TL:DR
June 19, 2010 at 7:31 pm
I didn't cry.....I had something in my eye. OH who am I kidding?!?! Awesome! KEN WAS SPOT-ON PERFECTION!!!
June 19, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Cole,
It seems that your complaints had more to do with the darker elements of the film than any real attack on the film's quality. Toy Story 3 is probably neither darker nor lighter, neither funnier nor more existential than the first two movies in the series, though the first two movies dealt with themes of obsolescence and despair that have certainly continued over into this third film. Children will probably laugh at the sillier moments of the movie, though it's not necessarily a movie for children and you seem to have exclusively reviewed it from that angle.
This - plus the very peculiar act of visiting another critic's site to vent and indulge in self-aggrandization - indicates if nothing else that delighting in spoiling a film's perfect rating for its own sake is no better than the behavior of those neanderthals who commented on your article solely for panning a film they like.
June 19, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Correction Cole - I wasn't aware that Eric had linked your review, so visiting this site to comment isn't so strange. I'd be interested in seeing if you would recommend the movie for adults or people looking to enjoy the film on a level other than escapist entertainment. As somebody who has been less than enchanted with Pixar's recent offering I found Toy Story 3 more than profound.
For the record - as much as I enjoyed the movie, the shorts before Pixar films are getting worse and worse and "Day & Night" (the one before Toy Story 3) is stylistic but not artistic, and left me feeling empty and disappointed.
June 19, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Sorry to triple-post but I meant Pixar's recent offerings, not offering.
June 19, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Cole Smithey-
"I have young nieces and nephews with responsible parents who are very sensitive to what their kids see. I could not in good conscious endorse 'Toy Story 3' as a G-rated film that meets their criteria."
Then take it up with the MPAA, not the film itself.
June 20, 2010 at 11:04 am
ive seen toy story 1, toy story2,and toy story3 my favorite one was toy story 3.10 thumbs up
June 20, 2010 at 11:07 am
This movie hit home to me!! My son (now 11) gave up his pacifier for a pull-string Woody doll at 2, and Loved him as much as Andy loved Woody. Now all the Toy Story toys ( And I mean all the characters, including Zurg) are under the bed in a plastic bag. After the movie, my soon-to-be Junior High son got all the toys out and lined them up in his room and "played" with them with his younger sister. Oh what that did to my heart!! Yeah Toy Story 3 and the MARVELOUS writers!!
June 20, 2010 at 7:57 pm
I'm speaking in behalf of my 3 year old daughter. This movie is made for kids and hopefully made for kids of all ages. My daughter liked it at first, happy to see Woody and Buzz after watching them in Toy Story 1 &2. But in the middle of the movie where it showed how bad the bear is and how the the toys fight against each other, my daughter cried and tried to run down the aisle on her own. She got really scared. The movie was violent for kids her age. I understand that the movie has a really good meaning, but it should be presented less violently so smaller kids would also appreciate it.
June 22, 2010 at 10:57 am
Your review made me laugh out loud, and not the fake lol kind. It was honest to goodness out loud laughter. I'm beyond excited to see this movie with my kids this weekend. So glad to hear the Pixar people have done a great job again.
June 22, 2010 at 1:36 pm
There were many moments I cried, but one that was unexpected was when Andy's mom looks around his room and just sighs. How much emotion they put into that little gesture!
June 22, 2010 at 4:18 pm
I am so excited to see Toy Story 3. I think the first two movies were amazing and cant wait to see the third one with my friends on thursday. I think that people of all ages love the the toy story movies!...I know I do and Im in my late teens. I hope that pixar wont stop with Toy Story 3 because ive been waiting 11 years for this one and I know it will be worth it!
June 23, 2010 at 1:25 pm
I definitely hope they end the Toy Story franchise with Toy Story 3. I saw it yesterday (and your review was SPOT ON, Eric) and it was such a perfect, perfect ending. A perfect movie. I seriously have no idea how Pixar can POSSIBLY top this movie, but I'm sure they will :) They always do
June 25, 2010 at 9:27 am
I am taking my 6 year old to see TS3 this weekend. Thanks for the great reviews. Although I haven't watched it yet, I kinda hope there will be a TS4 with Andy handing his toys down to his children.
June 27, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Loved seeing the movie! I keep telling my wife we should buy all of the Toy Story toys so that we can have our kids play with them. Can't believe that Pixar hit another one out of the park. I think this will end their streak though, since there is no way that Cars 2 can beat TS3.
June 28, 2010 at 4:33 am
@katrina- Maybe you should take a good look at what you just said.
Your kid is 3 years old, FFS! How the hell is she going to appreciate or understand any movie, let alone Toy Story 3?
Consider Toy Story 1. How the heck would she have reacted to Sid???
If someone isn't old enough to see 1 or 2, why should they tailor the 3rd movie for a damn 3 year old?
When your kid learns how to see more than pretty colors and "ooh toys," show her this movie.
In fact, I would be adverse to showing my kid any movies before a certain age. They're just going to learn how to be sheep to the shameless subliminal things they put in movies these days. I'm talking about stuff like "oh happy music, I'm now happy about what's happening!" "Oh, sad music, now I'm depressed about these characters that I'm totally emotionally involved with." etc...
July 1, 2010 at 11:52 am
BEST. MOVIE. EVER. Im a 21 year old college student, my fiance and I went to this movie along with a lot of other friends my age and after the movie well we all basically agreed we would never tire of watching this movie. I've been waiting for this movie since I was ten and it was not a dissappointment!
July 8, 2010 at 7:40 am
hanks for this review. I was planning to watch this on 3D for, well, better experience. But since you stated that it doesn't really make any difference (considering toy story 1 & 2 managed to be one of the greatest films of all time without the imax factor).. so I decided to just watch it at home.. alone. with my own popcorn.
And wow... this movie was just.. wow. Saying it was 'GREAT' is an understatement. even 'EPIC' isn't enough.
Gah, I wanna cry.
July 10, 2010 at 10:25 am
Although I enjoyed this movie because of its humor and original story, I can't help getting frustrated with the complete lack of creativity in the visual aspect. Sure, the visuals are impressive and expensive. But most of all, they're boring. Why should a cartoon have backgrounds that are almost photorealistic? So that we can go: look how much money they spent? I would rather see the work of someone with an interesting aproach to composition and color.
The human characters are all from the uncanny valley, and the only difference between Andy's face and his mother's is that she has a smaller nose.
The toys look bland and uninteresting. You don't really notice because they've put so much money into making them as realistic as possible, but if you look at a non-CGI drawing of Lotso the bear, you'll notice who uninspired the design is. It's just a teddy bear. Anyone could have drawn him.
Animation for Pixar is mainly characters getting from A to B; no interesting body language, like in old Looney Tunes and Disney cartoons. When the character do move in a 'cartoony' way, it's usually uninspired and poorly animated.
So yeah, Pixar's visuals are impressive, but there is not an ounce of creativity in them. For once I'd like to see them make a movie that shows they're not just good at story-telling, but they also care about animation and character design.
July 13, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Just saw it with my boyfriend, his brother and his girlfriend, in a late night show with no kids around.
I laughed very very hard and held back my tears at the begining as well as at the end. I was super excited to see it and now that I saw it I'm in awe. One of the best animated movies I've ever ever seen, if not the best. It's nice to see that I'll never be too old for Pixar.
April 12, 2011 at 5:25 am
Toy Story is just as it sounds. The brief story, which doesn't even reach 80 minutes, constantly moves along without trying to do too much. The humor is effective and so are the segments that thrive off of emotion. This is possible because the characters are likable.
Aside from the human characters, which are more than adequate, the film pays attention to detail when it comes to the visuals. The look of the toys seem as if a toymaker designed them for the big screen. Not only that, but the functionality of the toys come into play for integral parts of the story, as well as some laughs.