Toy Story 4

Another Rescue

         
 

23 June 2019| Comments Off on Toy Story 4     by Sean Chavel

 

Toy Story 4 opens in a rainstorm where one of the toys is in danger of getting swept down the drainpipe, and what the message is imparting to its little ones in the audience is: This is how toys get lost, beloved items can get swept away by Mother Nature. Beyond that, part four is made out of variants of the same storyline used three times before, of how do you make yourself feel of use when you’re no longer a child’s favorite play thing. Opening with Randy Newman title song habitual is a good thing, both for youngsters and for adults I suppose that have been faithful with this series for many years. But despite this entry having the nicest Americana road trip look of the series and a bric-a-brac antique store (which it spends too much time at), there’s a cash-grab rehash feel — it’s actually Toy Story 3 Redux with a small hook, doll Gaby (Christina Hendricks) wants a single part, a sound box mechanism dismantled from Woody for her own use, and Woody just wants Forky back to deliver to its child owner, Bonnie.

You could say Tom Hanks is as endearing as always, but even I’m a little sleepy listening to Woody’s undying loyalty when it comes to a fork with beady eyes and pipe cleaner arms — here’s a character we love but are tired of witnessing his non-ability of knowing when to let go. Bo Peep (Annie Potts) probably has more screen time than Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), showing that girls’ toys can show bluster when called into action. But Ducky and Bunny (Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele), loud and how about more loud, are probably the most annoying toys of the series.

I’m strictly in it for the ol’ classic summer festival in a small town look and some throwaway jokes, and hope that the toys after four movies have learned its oft-repeated messages by now. My faith in the series after this fourth time is certainly now retired despite whatever technical glimmer it has going for it. For youngsters attached and endeared by familiarity, though, it’s sure to work for them like gangbusters.

FAMILY FILM / ANIMATION / WEEKEND COMFORT FOOD

Film Cousins: “Toy Story” (1995); “Small Soldiers” (1998); “Toy Story 2” (1999); “Toy Story 3” (2010).

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Sean Chavel

About The Author / Sean Chavel

Sean Chavel is a Hollywood based author and movie reviewer. He is the Executive Director of flickminute.com, a new website that has adapted the movie review site genre by introducing moodbased and movie experience based reviews.

 

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