THINKING OUTSIDE THE TOY BOX

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This article was published 18/06/2010 (5949 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The timing of Toy Story 3 being released at the same time as the last Shrek movie could not be better.

Compare the franchises and Toy Story comes off as a paragon of animation art. This third movie in particular is beautifully crafted, involving and extremely kid-friendly, where Shrek’s animation is persistently lumpy, its narrative is haphazard and its tone is adult-cynical.

In short, the first two Toy Story movies were class acts and the third — and reportedly final — instalment maintains the magic.

An elaborate action scene at the beginning actually takes us back into the fantasy world of young Andy as he plays with his coterie of toys, most notably the loose-limbed cowboy doll Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) and resolute astronaut action figure Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen). Randy Newman’s song You’ve Got a Friend in Me plays and then pointedly ends at the line: "And as the years go by, our friendship will never die."

The lyric becomes a question, as we find the toys tucked away in a toy box and Andy, now 17, packing for college. The toys, who function like loyal employees, are looking at the possibility of literally being put out on the street… in a garbage bag, in fact. Woody believes Andy will either take them to college or store them in the attic to save for his own children. But proving that a garbage bag is an unfortunate mode of storage, the toys end up at the Sunnyside Daycare Center, where it appears the forcibly retired playthings will spend their golden years doing what they do best: being played with.

But appearances are deceptive, especially when it comes to the seemingly benign plush bear Lotso (Ned Beatty), who rules the daycare domain with a strawberry-scented iron fist. Once again, Woody finds himself up to his spindly neck in a rescue mission (augmented by the daycare setting, which at night resembles a high-tech prison).

The setting allows for an infusion of new characters, the most hilarious being Ken (Michael Keaton), a narcissistic, metrosexual love interest for the ever-chirpy Barbie (Jodi Benson) — with his own Dream House.

Ken in particular facilitates a few sly winks directed at mom and dad (watch for the high heels gag) but, unlike Shrek, the movie maintains its child-friendly demeanour throughout. The moviemakers, taking the cue from director Lee Unkrich, really care about these characters and the audience is obliged to follow suit.

That said, the film’s climactic sequence in a garbage-processing plant is actually more intense than the nightmarish environs of Sid’s room (from the first movie), even as it culminates in an unexpectedly moving display of toy solidarity that is as sublime a moment as you’ll find in any movie, animated or not.

Yet Toy Story 3 never yields to Disneyfied shmaltz. In its script and its execution, it is a rigorously intelligent piece of work.

I suppose you might say the same thing about Shrek Forever After, if feeling generous. Here’s the difference: Toy Story 3 never flaunts its smarts at the expense of its effusive heart.

randall.king@freepress.mb.ca

Other voices

Selected excerpts from reviews of Toy Story 3.

 

Woody, Buzz and playmates make a thoroughly engaging, emotionally satisfying return.

— Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter

 

Dazzling, scary and sentimental.

— Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

 

What more could audiences want from a movie than this hilarious, heartwarming entertainment for all ages?

— Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine

 

Clearly, Pixar’s genius for adventurous storytelling continues unabated.

— Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York

 

Its irresistible conceit and snappy good humour remain largely intact, though now it also hauls a saltier and more anxious sensibility.

— Eric Hynes, Village Voice

 

Adults in the audience will undoubtedly shed a tear or two. But that’s how good the folks at Pixar are: They make you feel genuine emotions for hunks of plastic.

— Christy Lemire, Associated Press

 

This tertiary adventure delivers welcome yet non-essential fun, landing well after its creators have grown up and succeeded toying with more sophisticated stories.

— Peter Debruge, Variety

 

Nostalgic and sentimental in narrative and ideology, Toy Story 3 lacks the visual and thematic sophistication of Wall-E and Up, but still offers passable entertainment to all members of the family.

— Emanuel Levy, emanuellevy.com

 

— Compiled by Canwest News Service

 

 

 

 

MOVIE REVIEW

Toy Story 3

Starring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Michael Keaton

Grant Park, Kildonan Place, Polo Park, St. Vital, Towne

G

5 out of five stars