Toy Story 3 Review

It's hard to believe that it's been 15 years that Disney and Pixar Animation Studios released its first "Toy Story." With its third and final installment, Woody and Buzz, along with the rest of the gang are all back and have come full-circle in "Toy Story 3."

Synopsis

Andy, owner of Woody and the gang, is all grown-up and heading off to college. Because he is all grown-up, playing with his toys has not been on his main agenda, and the gang has been subjected to an old toy chest. Along with other toys that remain, Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Ham (John Ratzenberger), and Slinky (Blake Clark, replacing the late Jim Varney) and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head (Don Rickles and Estelle Harris), Andy packs up his things to go to college and has to decided with toys are to be donated, put in the attic, thrown-out, and which are coming with him.

Woody is chosen to go to college, while the rest of the gang is chosen for the attic. After being mistakenly "thrown-out," the gang found their way into the donation box headed for Sunnyside Daycare with Woody on hand to try to convince the gang that Andy did not throw them away.

Feeling rejected by Andy, Buzz and Jessie lead the rest of the toys to their new lives at Sunnyside Daycare. Initially, the daycare, led by headed by Lotso the stuffed bear (Ned Beatty) and a Ken doll (Michael Keaton) looks like a great place where the gang will be loved and played with again, but in true "Toy Story" fashion, things turn bad quickly.

Woody escapes from Sunnyside, but runs into toys that have previously lived in the daycare and are now owned by a little girl. Once Woody hears of the "real" Sunnyside, the race is on for Woody to save his friends, and get them back safely to Andy's house before he leaves for college and realizes that he and the gang are missing.

The Bottom Line

For a rated-G movie, it can be quite dark and somber and feels as though the movie is a bit long. It is a real tear-jerker for new fans and especially the old fans that have been with the franchise for all these years.

However, the animation is crisp and clean and the colors are vibrant and eye-popping. I suggest seeing this movie in 3D. Overall, "Toy Story 3" is a movie is a great tale about family, the power of friendship, loyalty and about maturity and letting go. It is a feel-good story that is heartfelt and manages to combine a charming children's story with a mature theme that captivates audiences of all ages. Disney and Pixar add another great movie to their belt and did a great job in providing closure to the "Toy Story" 15 year trilogy.

9.0/10

By: Jade Raven