I was only seven years old when the original Toy Story premiered, and yet I still remember seeing it for the first time. I was struck right away by the animation—how could they possibly do so much with computers? I remember sitting next to a friend, my mother on my other side, and together the three of us laughed at the army men scuttling through the giant house, the sarcastic piggy bank's jokes, and the absurd situations in which Woody and Buzz Lightyear entangled themselves. Finally, I remember being moved by the story of friendship, trust, and determined optimism even at that young age—though I am sure the Randy Newman soundtrack contributed to the emotion. I distinctly recall my mom saying afterwards that she had never expected to enjoy a kids movie so much and that I made a good choice in picking Toy Story. I felt exuberant and triumphant.
Fifteen years later, my reaction to Toy Story 3 is almost identical to that first experience—one of joy and wonder. The 3-D animation is simply stunning, especially on an IMAX screen. It seems every film now being made in 3-D is one step ahead of its predecessor in execution, and this movie is no exception. In fact, I think it is the best 3-D film that I've seen yet. The Disney flick's humor is especially on-target, and old jokes from past films are brought back, such as “the claw.” The best new character is definitely the Ken doll (voiced by Michael Keaton), whose effeminate ways give the adults in the crowd an extra laugh, even if the kids don't fully understand the joke. Like other successful kids films, this layering is consistent through the feature, as when Woody introduces himself and a female toy says “Really? Woody? You wanna stick with that name?”
Some of the humor is due to excellent writing by the folks at Pixar and some can be attributed to the incredible voice acting. But the story is also amusing because we as an audience know these characters. Another hilarious highlight is when Buzz Lightyear is accidentally switched into Spanish mode and begins dancing and wooing cowgirl Jessie--a stark change from his usual, controlled ways.
It's funny to see Barbie swoon over a Dream House since we know her personally—she is not just any old doll. This is perhaps the key to the film; that we as viewers are immediately invested in the future of these toys because just like Andy, we have grown up with them, too. So when Andy has to go off to college, leaving behind his old friends, it's heartbreaking without even trying to be.
Immediately, the film taps into the universal and tragic truth of growing up and its costs. Things are always lost, even if other, new experiences are gained. It is moving to see it on screen and to feel the echoes from one's one life at the same time, and so I legitimately cried during this film. Not just some misty eyes, I mean actual tears rolling under the 3D glasses down my cheeks, like was the case in the beginning of Up. But the movie is not merely cuddly or emotional; it doesn't hesitate to explore darker stories as well. I remember being terrified of Syd and the freakish creatures in his workshop as a child, and found myself just as scared this time around as the characters faced another creepy baby doll, a shredder, and a molten dump disposal pit. The action is exhilarating and it is hard to tear your eyes from the screen, even for a moment.
In the end, I think this third installment of the Toy Story franchise is actually the best one, because it has the biggest adventure and pulls together all of the stories and themes of the past films. And it seems that critics and the public agree, since the reviews thus far are terrific.
Sum...ology: You'll laugh, cry, be scared, and reminisce—a journey well worth the pricey 3-D movie ticket this weekend.
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