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| Woody (Tom Hanks) and Bo (Annie Potts) in Toy Story 4. Image courtesy Disney. |
You
can see a bit of wear and tear on the Toy
Story 4. The
shine from the first three films has faded a little, the story
finally feeling a little worn out after years for replay. The new
toys can't fully reinvigorate a franchise that has been a rock for
Pixar for nearly a quarter century. But even a rundown Toy
Story
is a joy to play with, still functioning at a remarkably high level.
And in its old age, the franchise has embraced just how blooming
weird its concept is.
Toy
Story 4
brings back Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan
Cusack), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), and the rest
of Andy's old toys, showing them integrating into life with new owner
Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw) and her toys Dolly (Bonnie Hunt), Trixie
(Kristen Schaal), Buttercup (Jeff Garlin) and Mr. Pricklepants
(Timothy Dalton). It doesn't take too long for Woody to go from
favored toy to the back of the closet, replaced by new toy Forky
(Tony Hale), who Bonnie create out of a spork and some garbage. An
ensuing road trip results in Woody and Forky getting lost and
stumbling into the seemingly nefarious Gabby Gabby (Christina
Hendricks). Forky is captured, but Woody escapes and stumbles into
his lost love Bo (Annie Potts) in the process. They are joined by a
host of new toys like Giggle McDimples (Ally Maki), Ducky
(Keegan-Michael Key), Bunny (Jordan Peele), and Canadian Evel Knievel
knockoff Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) in their attempts to rescue Forky
and reunite with Bonnie.
If
the last bit seems familiar, it's because this is effectively the
same general plot the franchise has relied on for more than two
decades. A toy/multiple toys get lost, stumble into an adventure and
escape from folks with malicious intentions, and return to their
owner before the owner relocates. At this point the toys are
boomerangs, trying ever so hard to return home despite the odds being
heavily against them doing so. This formula worked great for three
films, but in Toy
Story 4
it feels a little played out, perhaps done just one too many times to
have the same zip as the earlier films. If the film falls short, its
caused by this fatigue that creeps into the events. The narrative is
a little shaggier, the voice acting for Andy's crew a little less
excited. The problem is worth calling as the main reason why Toy
Story 4
can't quite hit the highs of films one through three.
The
highs of this franchise are brilliance though, so falling short of
brilliance still results in a mighty fine movie. In fact, Toy
Story 4
often soars thanks to an abundantly weird tone that is a logical step
for the franchise. Forky is the nexus for this oddness, a character
that spends the first act desperately trying to dispose of himself
out of fear of his newfound self awareness. The horror of his
situation is surprisingly poignant, but the film focuses more on
Forky as an existential joke and as a means of bringing out the best
of those around him. As a character, his naivete bounces off Woody's
weariness, giving Woody a new friend and combatant. Forky's innocence
is a fountain of comedy, and a sign the film is willing to look deep
into its history and reveal the tragedy of its premise.
Forky's
presence is a recognition of just how disposable its characters truly
are. They are beloved by their owners for seconds or days or years,
but ultimately they become forgotten, lost to the closet or an
antique store to watch the world pass them by. What Toy
Story 4
tackles with is the question of what one does when one isn't needed
anymore, what the meaning of life is when your purpose is ripped away
from you. For Woody, who has staved off his death for years, the
answer isn't quite a reboot, but a little soul searching to evaluate
what he has to offer to his owner, his friends, and the world at
large. It's thoughtful and contemplative and ingenious, handled with
grace and a hearty sense of humor. There's always room for a joke
even when one is lost in an existential drift.
I
hope Toy
Story 4
is the final film of this franchise. This might not be the ideal way
to end things – the final moment of Toy
Story 3
are nearly perfect – but it's an excellent end to Woody's story.
He's rewarded for his inherent decency and growth from selfish diva
to a leader of toys, and there might not be much more to want from
his story than this. If this is the end, it would serve as a pretty
excellent final chapter to a very excellent series.
Review: Four and a half out of
Five Stars
Click here to see the trailer.
Rating: G
Run time: 100 minutes
Genre: Animated
tl;dr
What
Worked: Animation,
Humor, Forky, Woody's Journey
What
Fell Short: Redundant
Plot
What
To Watch as Well:
Toy
Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3
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