It’s tough to put into words how incredible this ended up being after one initial viewing. What was originally viewed as an eye-rolling cash grab after the sense of finality put on Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4 follows it up with a conclusion that is as deeply rewarding and emotionally satisfying. These emotions begin and end with Woody.
A character who is optimistic, heroic, and a toy who will make any large obstacle, a smaller, more achievable one. Set to the backdrop of a dusty antique shop and a shiny carnival across the street, Woody’s hubris almost costs him the lives of countless toys. Each film has shined a light on Woody’s purpose, and his devotion to staying true to what a toy serves in a child’s life almost proves to be his downfall. After meeting a few toys who he deems “lost”, Woody slowly uncovers what it means to be a toy beyond the confines of a child’s bedroom. This all the more proven after Bonnie brings a classroom creation to life after jotting her name down on his feet, Forky.
Forky is a character who could have easily ruined the experience and been a nuisance or an empty macguffin. Instead, Forky exemplifies the points that Toy Story 4 intends to make, and speaks to many self-doubts that can plague our mindset everyday. It’s a small creation, but a palpable one that further enriches the world and asks us to ponder deeper questions about ourself, our purpose, our desire, and our beliefs. It’s a film that completely trusts it’s audience young and old, and for any animated film to respect the medium like that, it is almost a surefire bet to be a great one.
Toy Story 4 is just as excellent as you’ve heard, and totally surprising. It wasn’t until recently where I got truly excited to expand upon a beloved trilogy, and as it turns out, it’s just as good as the others. Sure, this gets a little weird and sometimes the focus isn’t as tight, but it’s an extravagant journey with many topics on it’s mind, and it delivers. This is a franchise that changed the game, made us believe toys were sentient when we weren’t looking, made us believe that animation was going to change forever (and it did), and Toy Story 4 captures all of that magic with a striking color palette, down to Earth characters, and endless laughs. The voice cast is all terrific, and newcomer Keanu Reeves is a scene stealer as the Canadian stuntman, Duke Caboom. There is not a single moment that makes you believe toys aren’t real, and it’s a journey that tells us that even though we’re lost, we can still be found.
Toy Story 4 gets a 93/100