LAKE OCONEE — Toy Story 3

Rated G



The Toy Story franchise is sort of a miracle among movie critics. Both “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” were judged, pretty much universally, as brilliant. So, there was some trepidation how “Toy Story 3” would fare. Would “Toy Story 3” be a clunker, failing to measure up to its two beloved siblings?

“Toy Story 3” did not need to be filmed in 3D. It is my advice to save the cash and go see it “au natural.” Perhaps it is not that shocking that “Toy Story 3” is just as good as the other two films. Who needs 3D? To gild the lily? “Toy Story 3” needed no such gilding.

“Toy Story 3” starts off oddly. It is a convoluted, crazy scene that resembles some cheesy Hollywood Blockbuster with one crazy plot twist after another. However, it was not the creation of some loony screenwriter; it is a game of wild “pretend” orchestrated by Andy, the young boy who owns those great toys: Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) and the rest of the gang.  

But we are soon brought into reality. Andy is no longer the little boy we met in the first two films. He is about to go away to college and his toys have been stored in the toy box for a long time. They are worried about their fate for good reason. Andy’s mom lays down the law: either the toys go to the attic, are donated, or get sent to the curb for the trash truck.

Andy decides to take Woody to college with him, storing the rest in the attic. Accidently, the bag of toys ends up on the curb. Woody rescues his toy pals but they end up at Sunnyside Day Care where they meet up with some other toys: Lotso Hugs Bear (Ned Beatty) and Ken (Michael Keaton) and Barbie. (Actually we meet Barbie earlier, but there isn’t much Barbie “character development” until these two meet.

Then some other stuff happens; lots of action, lots of funny gags, and lots of mocking of Ken and Barbie. And some pretty good “Great Escape” shtick that recalls hundreds of other films, long and (almost) mercifully forgotten.

“Toy Story 3” is both exciting and amusing. But that is not the whole of it.

I think many of us grown-up kids wonder what happened to our toys. Some of us know, of course, but most of us can only speculate. And, I also believe that many of us still have more than a little affection for our old companions. We care for them. So, “Toy Story 3” touches us in a way that is very unique. There is a murky gulf between our “past child” and our “here and now” and yet, it is just around the emotional corner.

Pixar makes films that masquerade as children’s’ films; they are really films for adults who still either have a nodding, friendly acquaintance with their inner child or have a real child or two that can act as their “beard” so they can see the films without raising eyebrows.

For the kids it is a wonderfully exciting story of toys escaping harrowing situations with a happy ending. For us, as adults, however, it is far more than just a sequel of two great films.

“Face it; we’re just trash,” says a lost, dejected, and bitter stuffed toy.” You can almost hear a tearful gasp from the overgrown kids in the audience. Clearly, some folks in the theater don’t believe that. There is, indeed, eye dabbing at the end of “Toy Story 3.” But the tykes probably aren’t as affected as their fully grown escorts; we mourn, just a bit, for our long last buddies. As we moved on with our lives, they remain in our hearts and in our fond memories.



“Toy Story 3” earns five bow ties out of five.