Inside each Pixar film, lays a sandbox that allows adults to find their inner child and children to let their imagination run free. No franchise illustrates this better than “Toy Story.” Now 25-year-old, these films feature a uniquely timeless appeal, as each chapter provides audiences with a rich understanding of what it means to not only be a child, but grow and mature as a person. “Toy Story 3” taught us there comes a time to put the toys away but never lose that childlike spark, and while that film is one of the most universally satisfying conclusions to a series of all time, Pixar so wisely understood that in life there is always a next chapter; an evolution of our identity and an understanding of who we are. And so, within that framework, it becomes more apparent as to why the award-winning studio would take their crown jewel in ‘Toy Story’ and develop a fourth film. As they have done countless times before, the mad geniuses in Emeryville, CA come out on top with “Toy Story 4,” which features some of the franchise’s finest, most poignant work to date.
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Adjusting to life with his new kid, Bonnie, Woody (Tom Hanks) struggles to find purpose in transitioning to life after Andy. When Bonnie’s new arts and crafts project-turned-toy, Forky (Tony Hale), declares himself trash, Woody takes him under his wing to show the latest member of the gang the value and responsibility of being a toy. But when Bonnie takes her toys on a road trip, Woody gets separated only to run into an old friend, Bo Peep (Annie Potts). Much has changed, and Woody begins to question his place as a toy.
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Though a veteran of Pixar, “Toy Story 4” marks director Josh Cooley’s feature directorial debut. And while many succumb to the fear of telling the next chapter in an already perfect and seemingly finite series, Cooley embraces the opportunity without hesitation. Perhaps much of this has to do with the quality and strength of the script, but Cooley approaches “Toy Story 4” as if it were a first-rate digestif that completes an already world-class meal. Cooley injects a brisk pace and exciting energy into the veins of this film while expertly balancing and marinating an emotionally resonant heart as Woody not only goes on an odyssey of self-discovery and of finding his way home, literally and figuratively. There are endless amounts of clever hysterics (thanks to Keegan Michael Key, Jordan Peele, and Keanu Reeves) that help crown “Toy Story 4” the funniest’ Toy Story’ yet. And still, all of this is wrapped up in a distinct adventure the likes the series has never seen before.
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Akin to “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” the new film introduces exotic new locales and toy havens that serve to expand further and explore the world of the franchise. While, from a human perspective, the environment appears somewhat contained, the filmmakers bring the audience down to a toy’s POV, allowing them to see the seemingly ordinary from a new perspective. The attention to detail in constructing these elaborate environments is exceptional. From the dust, to the cobwebs to the collection of plugs and wires found behind a shelf to Woody and Buzz’s weathered markings from years of play time, everything is so impeccably materialized in a way that immerses you further into this world like never before. And what truly allows these striking visuals to dazzle is the delivery of the most mature and relatable ‘Toy Story’ tale the filmmakers have conceived thus far.
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More so than previous entries, “Toy Story 4” truly is Woody’s story. Woody has always been a character that is so sure of his purpose in life – being there for Andy, but now that Andy’s moved on, the character is lost at sea. Sure, he attempts to fill the same role for Bonnie, but she’s a different person, disinterested in cowboy dolls and more fascinated with the sandbox her creation Forky provides. In an attempt to feel useful again, Woody tries to impart wisdom on to Forky, but this only furthers his internal struggle as he desperately clings to the past as a means of moving on, but in actuality, he’s just as lost as the spork he’s mentoring. Hanks guides the character with a real sense of vulnerability in what is quite possibly his best work voicing the character.
Thematically “Toy Story 4″ is most concerned with self-acceptance and the difficulties of life’s transition and while Woody is the most prominent example of this, everyone grapples with their own version of feeling lost. For every manic, expressive and comical action or line of dialogue Tony Hale brings to life; Forky is ultimately someone overwhelmed with the world and what it expects of him. Duke Caboom, Canada’s Greatest Stuntman, in a hilariously scene-stealing and charismatic turn by Keanu Reeves, lives in the shadow of his commercialized self— incapable of completing the impressive stunts his advertisement depicts—and has to accept who he truly is. Buzz (Tim Allen) embarks on a journey of discovering his own voice separate from Woody. This thematic consistency across the characters allows for their journeys to naturally work together as each arc furthers the next. This symbiotic relationship crescendos to a satisfying emotional impact that feels earned. While younger viewers are sure to learn valuable lessons, it’s the adults and viewers who grew up with the ‘Toy Story’ films who will likely be moved to tears.
“Toy Story 4” presents the surprisingly much-needed epilogue to a story many thought to be complete, providing an even more fitting conclusion. Cooley bursts out of the gate in his directorial debut with vivaciousness, tight storytelling, a rousing adventure, laugh out loud comedy, charming new characters, and most importantly, a tender, and personal, core. It’s everything you could hope for in a Pixar film and is sure to be the family event of the summer. If there’s one thing “Toy Story 4” has taught us, when we least expect it, we’ll have a friend in these toys, who will be the steady hand that guides us through life’s uncertainty. [A]