Toy Story 4
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Tony Hale, Annie Potts
Directed by: Josh Cooley
Rated: G
If you’ve grown up in the era of the Toy Story trilogy, there’s a major possibility you view your toys a little differently than other generations. This may include
Imagining they may interact when you leave the room
Feeling bad for putting them in a locked space
Developing a sense of extreme guilt when you lose a beloved toy
If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you are part of the Toy Story phenomenon. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I’ve been a part of it since 1997 at two-years-old when I saw Toy Story 2. When Jessie was left on the side of the road, a part of me vowed I would never lose or mistreat a toy. How could I put them through the emotional trauma of the Sarah McLachlan montage? That cut deep. 22 years after that cinematic experience, I ventured to see what Toy Story 4 had to say about everyone’s favorite toys. Unfortunately, I found the movie to feel more like an unnecessary tacked on sequel instead of a cohesive part of the franchise.
Toy Story 4 follows Woody and the gang as they acclimate to living with their new kid, Bonnie. After Bonnie makes a toy named Forkie in kindergarten, the group goes on a road trip that will have them asking some major questions about their purpose in life.
I’ve stated this in a few of my Pixar reviews, but I have a major issue with the structure of many of their recent films. All of their screenplays are the same! Finding Dory, Inside Out, and The Good Dinosaur are all guilty of this. Every single one of these movies is about a character who goes on a journey, gets lost and is sidetracked by a thousand quirky side plots…only to find what they were truly looking for along the way. How many times can we see this? How many times can Pixar characters go on a journey and we call it brilliant? In the preview for their next film, Onward, the two lead characters say “let’s go on this quest.” Ugh. Please come up with a new story structure!
There are some interesting themes explored in the screenplay of Toy Story 4, including the purpose of a toy. As Forky is introduced, he relies on Woody to answer the significant questions of life for him. Woody takes on the role of a father figure, and their relationship is symbolic to that of a parent/child dynamic. It includes protection from harm, explaining the world, and being there for him when times are tough. It is quite a unique way of exploring the parental dynamic through toys.
I do think Toy Story 4 could be very scary for young children. There are several scenes with the film’s villain Gabby Gabby (and don’t let this movie manipulate you into thinking otherwise, she is always the villain.) and her mannequin sidekicks that are disturbing to watch. I know that they would have terrified me as a child.
The direction in Toy Story 4 is disjointed, as well. There is not a lot of focus on the toys as a unit. The film starts focused on the new toy, a spork named Forky (Tony Hale), as he begins asking major existential questions about the purpose of life. Then there is a shift to Woody (Tom Hanks, giving an excellent voice performance) and Bo Peep (Annie Potts) going on an adventure with lost toys. There are several new characters introduced, including Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks), Giggle McDimples (Ally Maki), and Duke Kaboom (Keanu Reeves, proving to be the star of the summer). However, this leaves beloved characters like Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen, who entertains with his limited screen time), Jessie (Joan Cusack, who is majorly underutilized), and Rex (Wallace Shawn) entirely out of focus with nothing to do. Occasionally the film will cut back to the classic toys in an RV, but it feels like they are an afterthought, disconnected from the central part of the film.
While there are some stumbling blocks in screenplay and direction, the animation is incredible. This is one of Pixar’s most visually stunning films and, without a doubt, the most technically impressive of the Toy Story franchise. There are a few outdoor sequences that look like they were filmed in live-action. These moments seemed so lifelike that it was a bit of a surprise when the animated toys walked back into the frame.
Toy Story 3 wrapped up everything perfectly for Woody, Buzz, and the gang. Toy Story 4 will divide audiences and potentially dim the finale of the original trilogy. There is charm and entertainment factor here, but it pales in comparison to its predecessors.
Toy Story 4 is a technically beautiful, but narratively unnecessary addition to an already perfect trilogy.
My Rating: 6/10
All images belong to Walt Disney Pictures