Movie Review: TOY STORY 3

Fantastic! What makes Toy Story 3 so incredible is how this Pixar animated movie elicits so much emotion from the audience. After all, it’s only a cartoon. But for those of us who grew up with Bambi (1942), Walt Disney’s animated feature film written by Perce Pearce and Felix Stalton, we know firsthand, the power of really good storytelling. I’m sure I’m not the only one with vivid memories of Bambi’s mother getting gunned down by hunters. I cried for weeks. Toy Story 3 is not quite in the same league as Bambi but it is good and even adults will find themselves cheering for Woody and his group of toy-friends and cringing at the sinister strawberry scented bear, Lots-O’-Huggin’, voiced by Ned Beatty. And everybody will be scared of the big, stalking, talking baby doll that can turn its head all the way around – creepy.

Toy Story 3, like its predecessors, is a tale almost too preposterous and worse, too sappy, to be taken seriously but this is Pixar’s gift; to take a farfetched premise (think Monsters Inc., Cars and Up) and make it believable, engrossing and captivating. Think of all the movies, with all the bells and whistles, that cannot capture its audience (the new Wolfman, Sherlock Holmes, and The Lovely Bones, to name a few).

Although everyone voicing this movie is perfect, no one quite reaches the ranks of Michael Keaton as the Ken doll; the metrosexual, hung-up on fashion, who falls head-over-heels for Barbie. Oh yes, it is love at first sight and he woos her by asking her to move in to his ‘dream house’.

Most important, the plot allows characters to gradually come to terms with the film's overreaching themes of friendship and loss, taking us right along with them on every step of that poignant journey and bringing our heroes (and the franchise) full circle. Most impressive, the movie ends with a surprisingly moving last act that will leave you in tears.

The story and animation are so good, you will love the movie whether you see it in 3D or not. In today’s world of virtual reality-like 3D, Toy Story 3 is technologically, minor league. See it with your family and friends and stay for the credits as you get a glimpse of what life is like for all the toys at Sunnyside Daycare with the new toys in charge – priceless!