| |

Rated: G
Genre: Childrens
Theatrical Release:Jun 18, 2010
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn,
Estelle Harris, John Ratzenberger, Ned Beatty
Director: Lee Unkrich
Screenwriter: Michael Arndt
Producer: Darla K. Anderson
Composer: Randy Newman
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures
|
|
Toy Story 3
Review by Jason Donner
Call this a story over ten years in the
making and, unlike other long-awaited sequels (like Indiana Jones),
the time difference works wonders for the story.
Since
we last left that toy-loving darling little boy Andy, he's done the
unthinkable and grown up. Now, on the eve of his departure for
college his toys wonder what will become of them. Consigned to
the belief that they will never be played with again when Andy packs
only Woody to go with him, Buzz and the few remaining toys get
themselves donated to a day care. Have they found a new home
where they will be played with forever, or is it some sort of Hell
from which there is no escape? Is Andy really done with his toys
forever? Is Woody and Buzz' names some sort of an adult joke
after all, or just innocent misunderstandings from those with too much
free time and who look too far into things that don't matter?
It's tragic that 2010 has been such a
barren year that Toy Story 3 has been the most
emotionally gripping experience I've had all year. True, thanks
to fatherhood, I don't get to see the number of movies I used to (or
would like to which is why I wish someone would just hire me as a film
critic), but most of the the 2010 movies have been soulless black
holes from which no joy can escape.
Toy Story 3, however, is
outstanding. This is a movie crafted from love and emotion and
it drips from every scene. I will fully admit to being driven to
tears twice -- once during the firey climax when the toys are heading
towards certain doom and they do something so human and touching in
the face of it that I literally started weeping. Secondly, I
cried when the question of what would be the toy's ultimate fate was
finally revealed.
I'm a man, and I'll admit it. The
only difference between me and the tough guys is that I do admit it
freely.
Toy Story 3 is a joy, pure and
simple. It goes from being uproariously hilarious one minute, to
genuinely emotional the next, and the goes unexpectedly dark just to
catch you off guard. This is not a story about simple toys that
come to life when you're not looking, its grown far beyond that.
When the first Toy Story came out, I was
about Andy's age -- young, heading off for college, and leaving behind
all of my treasures. I saw Toy Story 3 with my children and,
when we were done, I dug in my closet and found an old stuffed dog I
had when I was a kid and gave it to my son as an early birthday
present. Toy Story 3 is the story of not leaving childish
things behind, but rather the joy of saving those things for the
younger generation.
|