Man the 2019 summer blockbuster season has truly been, well, a bust hasn't it? It's almost like the only movies released so far that have been bonafide hits so far are Avengers: Endgame, John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum, and Aladdin. But Godzilla: King of Monsters? Not only did it get torn apart by critics but it really disappointed at the box office. MIB: International? A flop. And the less said about the dumpster fire known as X-Men: Dark Phoenix, the better. But thankfully things might be able to turn around with the fourth adventure of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story 4.
Taking place a couple of years after the events of Toy Story 3, Woody and the gang have been settling down nicely with their new kid Bonnie after Andy left for college. However, things haven't been so great for Woody as Bonnie hasn't been playing with him much. Still determined to make sure his new kid is happy Woody tags along with her to school where she ends up creating a new toy named Forky. Now Woody has to help Forky settle into his new role as Bonnies favorite toy while on a road trip. And to make matters even more complicated, Woody has an unexpected reunion with Bo Peep and now he has to question what it really means to be a toy. So is this movie another worthy entry in the series that made Pixar famous, or should they have stopped at 3? Let's find out.
The Good
Ok first in foremost, the animation in this movie is absolutely gorgeous. You can really tell that Pixar really went out of there way to update the world of Toy Story while still having it look familiar. The textures of the older toys are definitely more defined this time around, from the hard plastic on Buzz's spacesuit to the more recognizable porcelain that Bo Peep is made out of. It's pretty cool to see some updates to these classic characters.
And speaking of characters, the newer additions to the cast are pretty entertaining. My favorite of the bunch being Forky, a toy created by Bonnie in school. Now when I first saw Forky in the trailers, I thought he was really gonna get on my nerves but when I actually saw the movie he proved me wrong big time. Forky easily has the funniest lines in this movie and it's interesting to see his existential crisis about being sentient thanks to Bonnie. The other new additions I liked were Ducky and Bunny. Like with Forky, I thought these two were gonna get on my nerves as well, but thankfully Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele bring their A-game to these characters and they are just as good at being comic relief as Forky, especially when they're sharing the screen with Buzz. And of course, Mr. John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves is a pleasant site as Duke Kaboom.
Now let's talk about the biggest selling point of this movie: The return of Bo Peep. Yes, after being notably absent in the third film, Woodys old flame makes her grand return to the big screen. It's really interesting to see how much Bo has changed in this movie. After Andy's younger sister outgrew her, Bo Peep has embraced life as being an action loving lost toy, and tries to make Woody see that there's more to being a toy than just belonging to a kid. Now I will admit, in the older movies I didn't like Bo Peep all that much since her purpose back then was just to be a flat love interest for Woody, but here she's actually given more agency as both she and her sheep have become completely independent of having an owner. And while she and Woody are still in love, their relationship is given more layers in this movie as Woody is really beginning to question if he truly does have a purpose beyond being there for a child.
Then, there is the antagonist of this film, Gabby Gabby. Gabby Gabby's main goal in this film is to get Woody's voice box since her's isn't working. That way she can finally go home with a kid. Now this girl is easily the most complex of the Toy Story villains thus far. Sid was a punk that needed to be put in his place, Stinky Pete was a well intentioned extremist, and Lotso was an authoritarian monster despite his tragic backstory. But Gabby Gabby is so soft spoken and sympathetic that honestly, she just seemed like somebody who was desperate to escape from confinement than an actual villain. Heck, I think she's the series first anti-villain when you really think about it.
Lastly, there is the story itself. Like many people, I thought Toy Story 3 was the perfect ending to the series. So when it was announced that a fourth film was in production I groaned. Pixar already had what is probably the best film trilogy of all time, why ruin it with what was seemingly a cash grab? But thankfully my fears were put to rest when I saw the film. This time around, Forky who as I said earlier is having an existential crisis with his newfound sentience, jumps out of a moving RV. Woody jumps out after him and tries to get him back to Bonnie in time. Now at first glance, this looks like it's gonna follow the same beats as your standard rescue adventure film. But trust me, Pixar understands that since this franchise is now four films in, it has to be anything but standard. The writing of this film has a lot of layers to it that possibly makes this film the most complex entry in the Toy Story franchise to date such as what it truly means to be a toy and what toys are made for. The film really takes it's time to make each of the characters motivations front and center. And finally, while I won't spoil anything, if you thought the ending of the third movie had you in your feelings then this movie is REALLY going to wreck your emotions.
Overall, the fourth chapter of Toy Story has a lot to be enjoyed.
The Bad
Now while this movie did a lot of things right, there is a gripe I had with it. It's not truly bad but just a little nitpick I have, which is the older characters. Now don't get me wrong, they're all still their usual selves but the main issue here is that they've been relegated to background characters at best. I mean it makes sense because the story is centered around Woody, Bo, and the newer toys. Trying to focus on everyone would have the writers biting off more than they can chew. Still if you're a fan of some of the veteran toys such as Jessie or Rex, don't get too excited because they really don't have too much to do here.
Conclusion
Though I initially had my worries about this movie, I am proud to say that Pixar has done the impossible and have made four high quality films in a row with Toy Story 4. This movie has an engaging and compelling storyline, detailed animation, and supremely well developed characters both old and new and is a satisfying ending to the series that made Pixar famous. So if you're looking to spend time with everyone's favorite toys this summer, I highly suggest you give this one a watch.
Rating: 9/10
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