Few series carry levels of expectation like “Toy Story.” Despite seemingly astronomical amounts of hype and skepticism before release, all of the previous three films have managed to exceed expectations to create what is truly only of the greatest film trilogies ever made. And now we have a fourth.
After what was a perfect ending, even down to matching the first film’s opening with the ending frames of “Toy Story 3,” there’s a lot to be skeptical about with this new instalment. Thankfully, Pixar once again crafts a wonderful story, though not necessarily for the reasons one might think.
Whereas the previous three films all featured journeys of some kind, “4” is mostly self-contained, existing for a majority of its runtime in the same location. This, and a lack of a cut and dry antagonist, leaves this entry feeling like the slowest and most anticlimactic of the bunch.
However, it also feels entirely intentional. This is the most Indie-like film Pixar has ever made. There are races against time and a few tense sequences, but most of the film focuses on characters talking about their roles and relationships. It’s a very talky movie, so don’t be surprised if younger ones find it difficult to sit through.
It still delivers massive amounts of charm and humor though. Tom Hanks (“Forrest Gump,” “Cast Away”) continues to deliver the goods as Woody, equally matched by his space-man costar Tim Allen (“The Santa Clause,” “Galaxy Quest”). Aside from Jessie, though, most of the supporting cast is pushed to the side so the newer toys can shine. And shine they do, thanks to excellent vocal talent in the form of Keegan-Michael Key (“Don’t Think Twice,” “Keanu”), Jordan Peele (“Keanu,” “Get Out”), Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men,” “The Neon Demon”), and Keanu Reeves (“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” “John Wick”). But none steal the show more than returning player Annie Potts (“Toy Story,” “Ghostbusters”) as Bo Peep.
Her storyline makes genuine sense in the context of the rest of the film and the overarching plot of the entire series. Woody’s arc is also extremely down to earth and will stand as one of the few family films that clearly is speaking directly to the parents. Because so much raw emotion and investment involves from these characters, it means that when things get tough, the tears start to flow very easily.
Forky, though, seems as if he was chemically engineered to counteract those tears. He is wonderfully adorable and charming, and Tony Hale’s (“Veep,” “Arrested Development”) performance helps cement him as a new Pixar staple.
However, not everything is buttoned up nice and tightly. A minor plot point with Woody and Hendricks’s Gabby Gabby feels a bit half baked, and the lack of a true climax could leave some feeling cheated. However, in the context of the film and its place as more of an epilogue as opposed to a final chapter, these issues become easier to swallow.
Visually, this film completely blows the competition out of the water. Sequences in the rain and with bright neon carnival lights are jaw-dropping, as well as tiny details like dust and reflections. This is one of the most incredibly gorgeous films to come out Hollywood period in a very long time.
Randy Newman’s (“Toy Story,” “Monsters Inc.”) score and musical work isn’t as strong as in the past, mainly because it’s so on the nose, (A song that says “Don’t throw yourself away,” as a character literally tries to throw themselves away) and there’s a lot of reused cues and work from previous “Toy Story” films, but it still works well here.
“Toy Story 4” might possibly be one of the most bittersweet and melancholy films Pixar has ever made. It wonderfully brings the stories of so many beloved characters to an end, and with the new Pixar creative heads saying they will not be focusing at all on sequels, it’s a worthy epilogue.
And that’s the best way to approach this film. “Toy Story 4” is an epilogue, meant to cinch everything up and provide closure for some of these characters. It’s a bit rocky in its subplots and lacks a true climax, especially in comparison to the previous films. But it is without a doubt one of the most heartwarming films of the year and manages to deliver a satisfying, if sad, ending for a truly beloved franchise. Everything gets tied up with a nice and neat Bo. 4.5/5