Movie Review: Toy Story 3

Saturday, January 29, 2011
Synopsis: Woody and Buzz had accepted that their owner Andy would grow up someday, but what happens when that day arrives? In the third installment, Andy is preparing to depart for college, leaving his loyal toys troubled about their uncertain future.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles
Directed by: Lee Unkrich
U.S. Rating: G

Woody and Buzz Lightyear are back in what I personally believe, the BEST animated film I've ever watched so far. I've been a huge fan of Toy Story, like most of every single person that has seen the films. We could consider that Toy Story was Pixar's master piece, their Mona Lisa. Obviously, Pixar was working directly with Disney for this project, but this project gave them the unique reputation and success this small team needed to make it big, just like they've been doing with all their animated films.

Andy has become a young man and he's ready to enjoy his new adventure moving to college. While he's packing, he's facing a dilemma with his toys. He has not played with them in years and they feel forgotten and abandoned. When his mom asks him if he wants to donate his toys, Andy decides to take Woody with him to college and intends to store the other toys in the attic. By accident, Andy's mom throws the other toys away, making them think they are no longer wanted; they escape and decide to climb in a box to be donated to the Sunnyside Daycare. Woody tries by any possible way to save his friends before they get into the box, but then he'll be forced to travel with them to their new destination, Sunnyside, while he tries to convince them and explain them that they've been put in this situation by mistake. Andy didn't want to donate them, but they were put away by accident.

Andy's toys are welcomed by the numerous toys at Sunnyside, and given a tour of the seemingly perfect play-setting by Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear (a.k.a. Lotso), Big Baby and Ken, who Barbie falls for. All of the toys are quickly enamored with their new home, leaving steadfast Woody alone to attempt to return to Andy.  He finds a way to escape from Sunnyside, but in his attempt, Woody is picked up outside the school by the imaginative toddler Bonnie. She takes him home and plays with him along with her other toys, who are well treated, happy, and readily welcome Woody. Woody is elated until he hears about Lotso from Chuckles the sad clown. Lotso, along with Big Baby and Chuckles, were once accidentally lost by their original owner, Daisy. The three found their way back to Daisy's home, but Lotso saw that he had been replaced. Though Chuckles realized the truth, Lotso, embittered, convinced Big Baby that they were abandoned, and used Big Baby's size to take mafia-like control over the toys at Sunnyside.  To be honest, this Big Baby is FREAKY!!!

Worried for his friends, Woody hurries back to the daycare and finds that they have been put on task to be played with the rambunctious youngest toddlers. They are also kept under guard at night by Buzz whom Lotso has reverted to demonstration mode restoring his original "Space Ranger" persona and allying with him.

Woody rejoins his friends and they work out an escape plan involving the garbage dumpster. In the process, Buzz is accidentally reset into a Spanish-speaking mode during an attempt to restore him to normal.  I personally believe this is one of the most hilarious moments on this film! The toys reach the dumpster, but are headed off by Lotso and his gang. As a garbage truck approaches, Woody explains to Big Baby that Lotso has lied to him and that his owner still loved him, whereupon Big Baby lifts and throws him into the dumpster. Unfortunately, Lotso manages to pull Woody in with him just as the garbage truck makes it. Woody's friends board the truck to rescue him, during which Buzz is hit by a falling television while saving Jessie, finally returning to his old self. The toys find themselves at the local landfill in Tri-County and are soon pulled onto a conveyor belt leading to an burn pit. They help Lotso to reach an emergency-stop button, only to have Lotso betray them and leave them to be burned. Believing they are at their last moments, they hold hands, but are rescued in time by the squeeze toy aliens using a giant claw. Realizing that being burned in an incinerator is much worse than Andy's attic, they take back everything they said bad about Andy. The toys initially vow revenge on Lotso but Woody successfully convinces them that Lotso is not worth it. They return to Andy's home, while Lotso is found by a garbage truck driver and is tied to the front grille of the truck as a decoration.

At Andy's house, Woody climbs back into the box with Andy's college supplies while the other toys resign themselves to the attic. Woody has a last minute inspiration, and leaves a note to Andy on the toys' box. Andy, mistaking it for a note from his mom, takes the box to Bonnie's home, introduces his old toys to Bonnie and gives her the toys to play with. In the end, Bonnie recognizes Woody, laying at the bottom of the box, to Andy's surprise. Andy is initially reluctant to give him to her, but eventually does so and then spends some time playing with her before he departs. Woody and the other toys find themselves wanted and played with again, and learn through notes passed in Bonnie's backpack that Barbie, Ken and Big Baby have improved the life of all the toys at Sunnyside.

One of my most recent surprises about this film is its Oscars Awards Nomination for Best Film. It was simply amazing to see that nomination. I'm totally convinced it will win the nomination for Best Animated Film, but the strong script, the fresh story and terrific characters are so perfectly assembled and  brilliantly written that I could easily say that some important directors, producers and film creators should learn so many, many things from this master piece.

It was not just a huge pleasure to watch in theaters, but it is definitely a MUST to have in Blu Ray or DVD as part of your personal collection.

I would rate this movie with a HUGE 5/5


Have you watched the film? What did you like or dislike from this movie? What would you rate this movie? Share with us your thoughts!

Enjoy it!... Watch it!

0 comments

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Recent Tweets

Follow 35mmReviews on Twitter