Disney will have quite a year when it’s all said and done when you factor in their recent acquirement of 21st Century Fox and the fact Pixar functions under the umbrella of the media giant.
You have three live-action remakes of classic Disney cartoons like “Dumbo,” “Aladdin” and the upcoming “The Lion King.” And now the fourth installment of the “Toy Story” franchise just hit theaters over the weekend.
And the real question is whether “Toy Story 4” is worth you or your family’s valuable time?
It’s hard to believe the “Toy Story” franchise is nearly twenty-five years old with the original hitting theaters in 1995. It’s one of the most dynamic franchises in animation history given the voiceover star power of Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear.
Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” also features newcomers Tony Hale as Forky, Keegan-Michael Key as Ducky, Jordan Peele as Bunny and Keanu Reeves as stunt bike rider, Evel Knievel wannabe, Duke Caboom.
The latest installment picks up virtually where “Toy Story 3” left off but when Bonnie creates a new toy named Forky (he’s actually a handmade spork) joins Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang, they take a road trip and discover how big the world can be for a toy.
To answer the question; is “Toy Story 4” worth you valuable time? It absolutely is.
The irony being “Toy Story 4” might just be the weakest in the whole franchise but it’s still a solid heartwarming and thought provoking movie for the whole family.
It’s is a movie that asks its viewers to consider bigger issues. What does it mean to be true to yourself? What happens if you let the right one get away? And what should you do if you get a second chance at happiness? It asks some heavy existential questions but it also feels appropriate to do so. It’s not forced at all.
“Toy Story 4” is a wonderland, a stunning collection of set pieces so lifelike you’d swear you’re watching a flesh and blood story take place. It’s never a distraction, though. The dazzling CGI allows you to fully invest in the story, the characters, which has always been the motivating structure in every Pixar movie. It’s their modus operandi.
Watching the majestic pristine visuals and you can’t help but imagine how glorious Pixar movies will look in just a few years. No other animation studio, and no animated movie, can do quite what Pixar is able to do.
That in and of itself is worth the price of admission alone.
And of course, Hanks and Allen are fantastic together. Woody definitely drives “Toy Story 4” as he’s done for every entry but Buzz has a tear jerking moment in the conclusion that’s enough to make a grown man cry.
It’s worth your time.