It’s odd to think that the majority of the audience for Toy Story 3 wasn’t even born the last time Sheriff Woody and his pals rode into cinemas in 1999. I know absence makes the heart grow fonder, but 11 years is in danger of making it need bypass surgery. It’s really nice to see characters who have become like old friends since we were first introduced back in 1995 when their arrival courtesy of Pixar represented the beginning of a whole new era in animation.
With such a long gap between films, the pioneering animation studio certainly can’t be accused of over milking their cash cow. Never one to rush, they clearly wanted to make sure they maintained the high standard set by the first two Toy Story films. And they have. Possessed of the same charm and humour, allied to its stunning animation which is augmented by an extra dimension this time round, Toy Story 3 is every bit as good as its predecessors.
Perhaps Pixar’s greatest accomplishment is not its revolutionary technical achievements, but its focus on a good story. Once the initial Wow! factor of the visuals has passed, they insure there’s always compelling story to maintain interest and one aimed as much at the parents as it is at their kids. Indeed, on numerous occasions while watching Toy Story 3, the grown ups were laughing more than the youngsters.
Things begin with Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) involving all the toys in a plot to try and get their owner, Andy, to play with them. But like the Toy Story audience, Andy too has grown up. Now aged 17, he is about to head off to college and is clearing out his room. Due to a mix up, his beloved childhood toys, which were heading for storage in the attic are inadvertently thrown out. During the rest of the film we follow the toys, which include Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Mr Potato Head (Don Rickles) and Rex (Wallace Shawn), on a turbulent adventure.
Along the way they find themselves at the Sunnyside Daycare center where they encounter a collection of other toys, headed up by the sweet smelling, but tyrannical Lots-o-Huggin’ Bear. One of the film’s funniest elements involves Barbie (Jodi Benson) whose arrival at Sunnyside is greeted with all the unctuous seductiveness Ken (Michael Keaton) can muster. There’s also an hilarious sequence where Buzz’s language setting is switched to Spanish and he turns from tough space ranger to smoldering Latin lover.
Toy Story 3 is rich with humour, frightening moments (well they were for the little boy next to me) and heart-wrenching scenes. It was a joy to be reunited with such wonderful characters. Like Andy, we all grow up, but the magic of Toy Story 3 is it reminds us we’re all kids at heart.
Kevin Murphy
