Movie Review: "Toy Story 3"

Seen on: June 15, 2010

The players: Director: Lee Unkrich, Writers: Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Cast: Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Joan Cusack, Michael Keaton, Ned Beatty

Facts of interest: Unkrich co-directed "Finding Nemo."

The plot: Woody, Buzz and co. are back, and this time, they have to escape from a daycare ruled by a bunch of ruthless toys...

Our thoughts: The talented, overly creative folks from Pixar are finally back in action, and the treasure they offer us this year is just as delightful as any other flick they have recently developed. A magical 3D-animated experience that simply shouldn’t be missed, “Toy Story 3” does a flawless job combining beautiful visuals with strongly developed characters and an intriguing, heartwarming story.

Shortly after the movie opens, Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toy gang start to realize that their exciting playtime with Andy is quickly coming to an end. You see, Andy is growing up fast and getting ready to leave for college, and that means his beloved toys are about to be left behind… in the attic. But then, the unthinkable happens…

After Andy’s mother accidentally donates Woody and his pals to a local daycare, the toys are completely on their own, away from their comfort zone. Bullied by the daycare’s ruthless toys and trapped in the room that belongs to the youngest, most careless children, Woody, Buzz and co. must now find a way to escape the terror at the daycare and head back home before Andy is gone for good.

I can promise you this much: Lee Unkrich’s “Toy Story 3” really is as thrilling as it sounds. Crafted with a lot of passion and incredible attention to detail, this third installment in Pixar’s popular franchise successfully keeps things interesting by taking the amount of action and development of its main characters to a whole new level. This truly is the epitome of a perfect sequel.

Like most Pixar movies, “Toy Story 3” boasts an emotional story with strong messages that will touch audiences both young and old, and those of us already attached to Woody and his friends will fall in love with these toys all over again. Yes, they may just be animated toys, but they are an ideal tool for the filmmakers to tell a story about the importance of friendship and the power of sticking together.

Loaded with suspense, “Toy Story 3” also works beautifully in terms of humor. The introduction of new characters like Ken (Michael Keaton) brings along a whole new dose of zing, and the hilarious energy and ambition of the rest of the toys acts as a perfect catalyst for pretty much all the fun surprises and plot twists we get to enjoy during the film’s highly entertaining 103-minute running time.

The third “Toy Story” looks gorgeous, of course, but I admit the whole 3D effect isn’t really necessary. It’s certainly not an annoyance, but I am sure the film as a whole has the same effect in 2D. Throw in some great voice work and a superb score, and you’ve got yourself a little masterpiece. I honestly couldn’t imagine the filmmakers find a better way to continue the series. Kudos to the care they’ve put into it.

Freaky quote: " I'd like to join your posse, boys, but first I'm gonna sing a little song." - Tom Hanks

The final word: Now it’s up to you to discover everything there is to discover in “Toy Story 3,” and I truly hope my words helped inspire you to see it if you didn’t plan on it already. This is not just another decent sequel. On the contrary, this is yet another Pixar movie that will blow your mind… to infinity and beyond. Enjoy the ride.

Article by Franck Tabouring