Toy Story 4 Review

I didn't want this film, especially when it was announced a few years ago. I grew up with these characters very near to my heart, and I wanted Andrew Stanton and gang to let the toys' stories conclude with the satisfying ending found in Toy Story 3. I should have trusted Pixar.

Toy Story 4 was unique, thoughtful, and entirely new for the franchise. It fit the universe well and expanded on the complex emotions of my favorite characters from my childhood. The Toy Story franchise has been successful in giving audiences something fresh every outing, and thematically growing up along with their "target audience." I struggled to even believe that this was a children's film, due to the provocatively existential character motivations and depth. We get an exploration into the purpose of life, the value of relationships, and self-worth. Every toy is fully fleshed out, and every side character doesn't feel unnecessary.

Tom Hanks as Woody is fantastic, and he is the focus of this film. This is an absolutely necessary streamline for a third sequel. He is a sympathetic hero that we desperately want the best for. We also get intriguing development, both as individual characters and for Woody, from Forky and Little Bo Peep. 

Forky, in a way, is in a dialogue with the audience, ushering in a new way of seeing this world. He is lost, and Woody shows exceptional character by helping him find worth.

All the relationships feel real, and the history is palpable between the toys. Simple conversations squeezed my heart because of the background and depth of every beloved character.

This is not to say that Toy Story 4 was a crushing exploration of life, it was a balanced three course meal with humor, adventure, and a lot of heart. Truly laugh-out-loud moments were plentiful, and the conclusion to this seemingly simple story was brilliant. Also, even if you hate the narrative, the animation and cinematography is breathtaking in every scene. Pixar is wildly ahead of the curve in computer generated animation, and it is still shocking, just like it was in 1995, how detailed every environment is. 

I did not know what to feel for a lot of this film, and there is the magic. Lasseter and Stanton never hold your hand with the screenplay, instead letting you feel what you want to feel, which leaves room for a somewhat strange roller-coaster of emotions. It also raised a lot of questions that kept me thinking for days. Pixar didn't just tack this film onto an already incredible franchise. This was a clearly thought out expansion on the world of sentient toys, searching for meaning in their own tiny universe.

I really missed the short film, it is always a welcome addition to Pixar films. For some reason, this film shipped without one. I won't hold it against them. 

9/10

Stanton Pruitt