The announcement of another sequel to the perfection that is the Toy Story trilogy was met with a collective “huh?!?” when the teaser trailer was released back in November. The worries of millions of very grown kids about the necessity of a 4th installment for Woody, Buzz and the gang take a bit of time to assuaged. Yet, what starts off as a familiar tread through 20+ years of toy rescues and existential dilemmas turns into one refreshing surprise after another.
Toy Story 4 returns to the story of Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of Andy’s toys as they start another chapter with their new owner Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw). When Bonnie creates new toy “Forky” (Tony Hale) out of a spork, popsicle sticks and a pipe cleaner, Woody must convince him that he is a toy and not trash in an adventure that will bring question to Woody’s purpose in life.
The first 20 minutes of the movie plays close to the previous films’ themes. Woody is often left behind by his new owner, so he selfishly tries to make himself relevant by helping Bonnie to create Forky at her first day of Kindergarten (despite the fact he’s not supposed to be there). What ensues is an endearing, yet familiar, back and forth to keep Forky from throwing himself out. Woody has to go on yet another rescue mission when Forky succeeds and the movie seems to fulfill fans’ fears of an unnecessary sequel. But a detour to an antique shop starts to bring Woody’s story to new places you didn’t think the franchise could go.
Once there, the story introduces charming new characters in an emotionally charged story with exciting action, amazing visuals, and universally relatable themes. New toys like Ducky and Bunny (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele) and Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) help make this the funniest entry into the franchise. Antagonist Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) and her ventriloquist dummy minions bring a horror vibe you didn’t think a Pixar staple could pull off. After being completely absent in #3, the return of a revamped Bo Peep (Annie Potts) and her relationship with Woody is the true heart of the film. Toy Story 3 masterfully explored themes of life’s purpose and feeling useful. This sequel takes hold of the fact that life’s questions get more complex as you get older, and the lessons learned in Woody and Bo’s mission to rescue Forky bring a profound depth to these continued themes.
Fan favorites like Jessie (Joan Cusack), Ham (John Ratzenberger) and Rex (Shawn Wallace) take a backseat to Woody and these new and returning characters, but they are so well developed that the balance between old and new feels like a natural development for the story. In the end, Toy Story 4 is the satisfying and tear-inducing end to Woody’s amazing 4-movie arc. Pixar writers were able to highlight life lessons from youth to old-age through an inanimate, felt cowboy, and the 4th part of his story is the new lease on life you didn’t think was possible.
Toy Story 3 gave us a picture-perfect end to arguably the greatest trilogy of all time. But then Toy Story 4 gives Woody and the gang some unrealized closure. Through laughs, screams, and tears, you will utterly enjoy this surprisingly moving entry none of us knew we needed. I am giving Toy Story 4 9/10 exclamations of “YOU.ARE.A.TOYYYYYYYYYY!”