2019 Summer Movie Season - Toy Story 4: Review & Analysis

To Finality and Beyond !!!! Fourth Entry of Pixar Series Provides Emotional Closure for Beloved Series!!!!

Review by Brandon Porter

First-day jitters are not
uncommon for new toys

Story Description

Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the gang are enjoying their life with their beloved new owner Bonnie. They are well taken care of, played with constantly, and are always excited about what they will get into next. One day, Bonnie creates a new toy in her arts and craft class bringing it home for everyone to see. The new toy named Forky (Tony Hale) is apprehensive about being a toy given he was originally supposed to be a kitchen utensil. The gang soon goes on a road trip out of town and Forky escapes believing he doesn't belong given he's meant to be used to eat food. Knowing how important Forky is to Bonnie, Woody follows him determined to bring him home. They are then thrust on a new adventure that sees them encounter many toys both good and bad including Woody's long lost flame Bo Peep (Annie Potts). With time running out to get to Bonnie before it's too late, Woody must make a choice that will inevitably change him and how he sees the world of a toy.

Bo showcases what she's been up
to since she's been away

Critical and Financial Analysis

The Toy Story series is one of the crown jewels of Pixar Animation Studios. The characters are beloved, the storytelling is flawless, and the animation pushes the envelope at every turn. It's this reason that a lot of fans felt puzzled why a fourth installment of the series was being made after the perfect capper to the story occurred in Toy Story 3. There was anticipation but skepticism on whether or not they could deliver another masterpiece after going 3 for 3. According to critics and fans, it was beloved on both sides. The film held a near perfect certified fresh score of 98% from critics and a 95% percent rating from audiences via Rotten Tomatoes. This marks the 4th time that a film in the Toy Story franchise has earned above 90% showing these stories still have weight, appeal, and high-value entertainment. Looking at the box office, the film earned a high mark of $118 million in its opening weekend which makes it the biggest opening in the franchise beating the  $110 million haul from Toy Story 3 9 years prior. This weekend haul and an additional $120 million overseas gives the movie a global total of  $238 million. According to the numbers, Toy Story 4 is yet another when for Pixar and the Toy Story franchise. It is truly remarkable that despite all the confusion of why the story needs to be continued, The Magicians at one of Disney's Crown Jewel Studios still managed to deliver a film that is equal parts moving and equal parts magical.

Look sharp cowboy. We got work
to do 

Film Review

For nearly 25 years, the Toy Story movies have been the pinnacle of animation and storytelling for both Disney and Pixar. After the amazing close to the initial trilogy, it was weird to see them tackling a story that continues to the journey of Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bo Peep, and the gang. Nevertheless, I was still super excited to go on another adventure with these characters I have grown with for over 2 decades. Now that I've seen the film, I can say that Pixar always seems to know when and how to tell an incredibly moving and poignant story no matter what the circumstance. A fourth installment of what was thought to be a perfect trilogy seemed puzzling and at time confusingly frustrating. But the wizards at Pixar have managed to somehow deliver another breathtaking addition to the franchise that surprisingly builds on what has come before. To start, the visuals and animation are straight up ridiculous. The amazing thing about these films is that each installment pushes the envelope in regards to the visual aesthetic and Toy Story 4 somehow represents the pinnacle of that continually rising bar. Amazing depth and detail, photo-realistic lighting and textures, and lifelike facial and motion capture bring the world to life like never before. Never has a Toy Story movie come this close to being almost live action like in both look and feel. But just like the visuals, the voice acting is just as astonishing. The entire cast returns and doesn't miss a beat maintaining the qualities that have made them iconic for over 20 years. Tom Hanks delivers big time as Woody giving all he has to the role with favorites like Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, and the late Don Rickles providing great performances in their limited screentime. Others like Tony Hale' Forky, Keanu Reeves Duke Ka-Boom, Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele' Ducky and Bunny provide scene-stealing hilarity throughout making what is at times an emotionally heavy film lighthearted and full of laughs. However, the character that has been given the biggest role this time around is Bo Peep. Once the love interest who just hung in the background, she is thrust front and center and given newfound resolve and a new sense of purpose within the narrative. Though she still has feelings for her sheriff she proved that she can match him in almost every way becoming a more capable and resourceful character as a result. In both spirit and animation, Bo Peep is more alive than she has ever been in any portion of the franchise. Another big standout is Gabby Gabby, played by Christina Hendricks. Though she is clearly framed to be an antagonist, in the beginning, the movie does a great job of developing her and making her sympathetic in all the right areas. Despite not being the standout villain that Lotso was in the last one, the film makes her a compelling and interesting character with antagonistic qualities but understandably reasonable motivations. That brings me to my biggest endorsement of this movie. The thing that makes the Toy Story films so beloved is how the characters feel so real. Each character is presented in a way that makes them so relatable and human despite the fact they are not. To see that Pixar has genuinely made these characters feel so real despite the fact they are essentially just talking toys is truly magical. It's a testament to the quality storytelling and development these characters have gotten in their nearly 25-year history. Overall, Toy Story 4 may seem like an unnecessary addition to what is largely an already amazing series. But somehow the movie reminds its audience that these characters still have a way of playing their way into the deepest depths of your inner child. 

Rating and Final Thoughts

Jaw-droppingly gorgeous animation, stellar voice acting, and an emotionally resonate story make this latest
entry in the franchise a shining gem and reassures that this series is truly one of the greatest of all time.

No matter where they go, You got a friend in them!!!