*****
When Bonnie creates Forky on her first day of kindergarten, Woody vows to protect her new toy - whatever the cost. A mishap on a road trip, however, throws Woody and Forky into a whole new adventure that will leave neither of them unchanged.
Let's get the context straight before I begin - I've grown up with the Toy Story franchise: as a child, I was terrified of Sid and his horrible dog; I cried at Jessie's heartbreaking backstory song in Toy Story 2; and, in the summer before I headed off to university, I saw the third installment with a large group of friends at the cinema. As Woody, Buzz Lightyear and company faced the incinerator at the end of the film, I looked along the line of seats at the faces of my childhood friends, and it felt like the perfect conclusion - not only to my formative years, but also to the franchise.
Imagine my anxiety, then, when Pixar announced that there would be a fourth installment! How could they add another film to a perfect trilogy? How would it ever match up to its predecessors? I needn't have worried. Within ten minutes of Toy Story 4 beginning, I felt like I'd never been away from the characters at all.
It's not just that the return of these beloved characters that make the film such a joy, though. Playing on the notion that Toy Story 4 shouldn't really exist after the perfect conclusion of Toy Story 3, the writers cleverly introduce existential themes. Forky (voiced by Tony Hale), for example, was made from trash and can't fathom the idea that he is now a 'toy', desperately trying to return to the bin from whence he came. In turn, Woody (Tom Hanks) grapples with the despair of no longer being played with, whilst newcomer Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) longs to be loved by a child - an unlikelihood as she has a faulty voice box. It's grown up territory for a film essentially aimed at children, but, as Pixar has shown before, it can portray such themes with a deft hand and light touch.
As ever, the fusion of comedy with moments of genuine heartbreak is expertly executed - I laughed out loud numerous times, and welled up more than once. One segment in particular, where newcomers Ducky and Bunny (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele respectively) plot with Buzz (Tim Allen) to retrieve a key from the elderly shopkeeper is especially giggle-inducing - plus the addition of Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) and his obsession with his previous owner is similarly amusing, if not bittersweet at times. The animation is also exemplary. Recently, Insider published a piece detailing how Pixar's animation has developed, and the years of research and effort are here for all to see. From the plopping raindrops to the fur on the cat's coat, each detail is fantastically realised - it's a real work of art.
The sequel we didn't know we needed, Toy Story 4 isn't just a good children's film - it's a good film full stop. Through the subtle development of beloved characters, excellent writing and stunning visuals, Pixar has once again created a masterpiece that can be enjoyed and appreciated by both young and old. Will there be a Toy Story 5? If the studio can keep up this level of skill, it would be a pleasure to experience.
Comments
Post a Comment