When will Pixar fail? Not this year, that's for sure. Lately it seems that anytime someone announces the third movie in a franchise we roll our eyes and say, "Omygoshnotanotherone." We've just been jaded too many times in the past (I give you Spider-man 3, Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End, etc.) and while I have no particular problem with trilogies Hollywood tends to forget what made the first two movies great when making the third. Even with a company as great as Pixar I was worried about this movie. The trailers looked good, but not great, yet I kept an open mind. After all How to Train Your Dragon looked awful and turned out to be fantastic. So I went to see Toy Story. I even sprung for the 3D show. And I have to say, it's fantastic. It was touching, funny, and action packed. I was not expecting it to be any good. Part of Pixar success must be in playing down expectations. For the last several movies (Ratatouille, Wall-E, Up and Toy Story 3) I have seen the preview and said, "Meh. Doesn't look that great." Each time I have been surprised at how fantastic the movies are. Maybe Pixar is the one studio that honestly doesn't know how good they are. If that's the case I hope they stay aloof for much longer.
This latest (and perhaps final) entry in the Toy Story saga takes place as Andy is preparing to go to college. His toys (Woody, Buzz and the gang) are all there waiting for Andy to play with them. Children's toys they may be, but naive they certainly are not. They know their time is running out and they begin to contemplate their various fates. In the toy world it seems you have three options: Trash, donation, or attic. None of them is ideal, but the consensus around the toy box is attic is preferred. At least there they can watch TV and hang out with the Christmas decorations. However after a mix-up Andy's Mom throws out the toys Andy was going to put in the attic. Once they figure out where they are they decide going to a day care may not be such a bad idea, so they escape and stow away in the Sunnyside Day Care donation box.
Upon arriving at Sunnyside the Toys decide they are in heaven. Toys get played with everyday and when the kids get too old they leave and new ones show up. It doesn't take too long, though, before the dark side of Sunnyside is revealed. It seems that the long time toys get special treatment while new recruits have to prove their worth by spending time with the destructive toddlers of the Caterpillar Room. Quickly the movie turns into a prison escape film that borrows heavily from classic and modern escape movies.
The story is great, the humor is strong (especially Buzz Lightyear as "Spanish Buzz" and anytime Ken is on the screen) and the heart is felt. I dare you not to get choked up as the gang faces their own mortality in a Dante-esque moment (Okay, I've never actually read Dante, but I have to imagine "Inferno" has some similar imagery). The movie is ultimately the purpose of toys, which is to be played with. It'll make you want grab your favorite toys from days gone by and be a kid again for a few minutes. Check it out, but don't waste the money on 3D. Not necessary, the story is good enough.
Rating: A Whole Ken's Dream House
2 comments:
Did you know that they're also making "the hobbit" with the original cast? Due 2012.
My favorite character--the surveillance monkey. It freaked the kids out, but had me tearing up with laughter.
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