Toy Story 4 — Review
This review was originally published on Cinemusings on June 20, 2019
Source: Pixar
Nine years ago, Toy Story 3 felt like the perfect endnote to Pixar’s beloved franchise. When it was announced that a fourth installment was in the works, it felt more like an uninspired cash grab than a necessary continuation of the story. Many people wondered what the point of making a fourth movie even was. What purpose could this film possibly serve? But Toy Story 4 redirects those questions back at its audience with one of the most existential animated films of all time. It’s a hilarious and heartfelt film that will inspire viewers to go out in the world and discover their purpose in life.
Josh Cooley’s Toy Story 4 kicks off with a flashback to fill us in on what really happened to Bo Peep (Annie Potts). The story then picks up shortly after the events of Toy Story 3, with Andy’s old toys making themselves at home with their new kid, Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw). Woody (Tom Hanks) is no longer the favorite toy, often getting left behind when Bonnie chooses which toys to play with. Woody’s fiercely loyal and knows that his purpose is to help his kid, but what’s he supposed to do if Bonnie doesn’t need him?
As if Woody’s existential crisis wasn’t enough, things get even deeper when Bonnie attends her kindergarten orientation. Woody observes Bonnie’s apprehension and sneaks into her backpack so he can go to school with her. From there, he watches as Bonnie sits alone, tearfully unable to make friends. When one of Bonnie’s schoolmates takes the art supplies away from the table where she’s seated, Woody fishes some out of a nearby wastebasket. Bonnie pastes a couple of mismatched googly eyes onto the back of a spork and along with a popsicle stick, pipe cleaners, and clay, she creates Forky (Tony Hale).
Forky is arguably one of the most fascinating characters Pixar has ever created. He’s sentient like the rest of Bonnie’s toys, but he wonders why he’s alive and refers to himself as trash. He relentlessly tries to throw himself into the garbage because he feels that that’s where he belongs, despite Woody’s insistence that he’s really a toy. Forky is essentially the embodiment of existential dread.
After Bonnie’s kindergarten orientation, her family decides to take a road trip before school truly begins. Understanding how important Forky is to Bonnie, Woody constantly keeps an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t escape. When Forky jumps out of the window of the family’s RV, Woody goes after him. The two of them bond and Woody helps Forky understand his purpose in Bonnie’s life.
While Woody and Forky are on their way back to Bonnie, they pass by an antique shop. Woody sees Bo Peep’s lamp in the window, and he and Forky make what’s intended to be a quick detour. Naturally, things don’t go as planned. They meet Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks), an old-fashioned doll struggling with an existential crisis of her own. Gabby Gabby desperately wants to be loved by a child, but her voice box is broken. When she discovers that Woody’s voice box still works, she sets out to steal it from him.
Between Bonnie’s house, kindergarten, the RV, the antique shop, and a nearby carnival, there are a lot of different settings throughout Toy Story 4. In addition to Forky and Gabby Gabby, there are plenty of other new toys on the scene including Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves), Giggle McDimples (Ally Maki), Ducky (Keegan-Michael Key), and Bunny (Jordan Peele). Despite all these new additions and new backdrops, Toy Story 4 doesn’t feel overstuffed or incoherent. It’s a tad sloppy at times and lacks the focus of its predecessors, but it’s a satisfying and solid entry.
Source: Pixar
The Toy Story franchise is one of the greatest movie franchises of all time, with each film being near-perfect. Toy Story 4 is the weakest installment, but it’s still a fantastic movie. It’s also quite possibly the funniest of the four films, with most of the laughs originating from Forky’s bizarre behavior and relatable existential angst as well as Bunny and Ducky’s witty and energetic banter.
It’s difficult to believe that Toy Story 4 is Josh Cooley’s feature directorial debut because it blends in so seamlessly with the previous films. Pixar took a risk entrusting one of their most beloved properties to Cooley, but it really paid off. The screenplay was penned by Andrew Stanton and Stephany Folsom, who developed the story with the director as well as John Lasseter, Valerie LaPointe, Rashida Jones, Will McCormack, and Martin Hynes. The fact that so many people contributed to the story is evident because the storytelling in this film isn’t as tight or neatly structured as the first three movies. Nonetheless, Toy Story 4 features lovable characters and an inspirational message that make up for any faults in its storytelling.
Bo Peep and Gabby Gabby are two of the most multifaceted characters in Toy Story 4. Not only does Annie Potts reprise her role as Bo Peep from the first two films, but she adds an extra oomph to the film. Thankfully she’s given much more to do in this film because she brings confidence and charm to her role. Christina Hendricks excels at channeling Gabby Gabby’s sinister yet heartbroken demeanor. Her vocal work gives even more depth to her character.
Toy Story 4 is simultaneously laugh-out-loud funny and deeply emotional. The animation is as beautiful as ever and the film is chock-full of delightful characters. Each entry in the Toy Story franchise has marked a certain level of growth, not just for the characters or the stories being told but for the viewers as well. The first film captured a childlike sense of imagination and adventure, while the second film delved into some deeper themes. Toy Story 3 provided a poignant sense of closure, especially for viewers who grew up with these films because they were headed off to college around the same time as Andy. Nine years have gone by, and those same viewers are probably out there trying to find their place in the world, which makes Toy Story 4 a fitting addition to the narrative. While a fourth film didn’t seem necessary, Toy Story 4 justifies its existence and earns its spot as another gem in an exceptional franchise.
Toy Story 4 hits theaters on June 21, 2019.
