Movie Review: Toy Story 3.

In the interest of full disclosure, I love Pixar, I love Disney (usually) and the entire Toy Story franchise is rooted deeply into my childhood.  So, suffice to say, I'm a bit biased.  Honestly, I thought that last point might mar the movie--Disney is resurrecting beloved characters after 11 years, there is more than enough room for error and offense here.  Almost everyone has some sort of attachment to the movies.  Toy Story is the first movie I remember seeing in theatres, and I remember that Sid absolutely terrified me.  Toy Story 2 is the first movie where I thought the sequel actually compared to its original (assuming you can get past Jessie's --Joan Cusack's-- voice).  I was so scared they were going to ruin a flawless run.

But scared you need not be, because this movie was absolutely INCREDIBLE.  On the surface, the plot stays true to the time lapse: we find Andy at 17 years old, heading off to college and packing up his room; which, as I'm sure you can guess, means having to pack up his toys and figure out what he's going to do with them.  Donation, trash, attic, college?  Without giving away anything that wasn't in the commercials, through a series of misfortunes, Woody, Buzz and the gang find themselves at a Daycare.  The rest of the movie follows them in their efforts to return to Andy before he leaves that week for college.

The usual toybox of loved characters are all there, though a few of the minor (but still loved!) characters have gone by way of the donation box.  There are several new toys thrown into the mix, though most notably a big pink fuzzy bear named Lotso, a scary baby doll with a wonky eye, the most effing adorable British hedgehog porcupine named Mr. Pricklepants, a larger part for Barbie, and a Ken doll!

What was completely surprising is how unexpected the movie was! So many parts you think you know what will happen, or you're sure something will, but then you are thrown completely off track.  The writers did an amazing job creating an interesting, fun and clever script.  I became completely entranced by the story and could not wait to see what would happen next.  It's nothing like how I thought it would be--it's much, much better.  And true to Disney, the movie was done craftily in that everyone of all ages will enjoy it.  It's entertaining for the children with jokes for the older crowd that will fall by the wayside to younger ears.  It's captivating for everyone, no matter how old you are or your attachment to the movie.  Hell, I'm halfway convinced that even if you didn't see the first two movies you would still enjoy this one!

What I definitely did not expect was how emotional the movie was.  Yes, it pulls at the heartstrings, brings back some of our favourite scenery/set objects (Pizza Port "yo" truck makes a small appearance!); and yes, it is sad to see Andy leaving.  But what the toys go through to get back to Andy, the situations they find themselves in and obstacles they face...it was crazy.  I was holding my breathe.  I was covering my mouth in anxious surprise.  I was gasping for fear, laughing with delight, saying "aww" with overload of cute.  And yes, kids...it's true.


I cried.

I couldn't help it!  There are three specific scenes I can think of where I could not help the tears falling on my face.  And not for nostalgia's sake, for the pure plotline and emotional tug the movie elicits.  I was terrified and in disbelief and touched and so absolutely swept away with it all that I could not stop the tears from coming.  And trust me when I say I was not the only one, and it was definitely not just the girls tearing up.

I could honestly go on and on about how amazing the film is, but we'll keep it to this: go see it.  Now.