Toy Story 3

The Toy Story trilogy bears parallels to The Godfather trilogy and the original Star Wars trilogy. The first installment was a phenomenon, the second was very arguably better than the first, and the third is the weakest in its group but only because it’s a very good film amongst greats. It might not necessarily bring too much new to the table, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a worthy entry.

This movie exists primarily for its conclusion. Pixar is known for character depth and strong emotional ties, but never before have they gone to the level that they do here. Then again, never before have they developed characters over the course of two films, let alone three. The fact that these stories correlate with the maturation of a young boy makes them unlike any other animated franchise, or probably any franchise for that matter. The sequels are not simply set up and motivated by plot but by the characters.

This is a coming of age story about the episodes of life. For toys that means a greater distance between them and their owners. Woody’s issue of being replaced by Buzz in the first episode suddenly seems very mild. From the beginning, it’s established that the tone is darker with the realization that many of our beloved supporting plastic cast members are no longer members of Andy’s toy chest. In a scene near the end, that ominous tone reaches a point so intense that dare I say it’s the most memorable and powerful moment in the entire series.

The downsides to this film include the plotline being undeniably recycled from Toy Story 2, just simply adapted to fit a new scenario. You’ll notice parallels with some new characters to older characters. Many of the interest hooking mishaps come as no surprise and feel as if they more or less are inserted to create a story as opposed to being driven by characters and circumstances as they were in previous episodes. Many of the same emotions from Toy Story 2 recur in this one. The main one being the need for these toys to always be loved by an owner and the temptation to give in to a less valuable but more permanent substitute. Formerly, it involved Woody becoming a collector’s item. This time it involves the group searching for belonging within the context of a day care hierarchy.

But alas, the tricks this movie employs still work, even if they don’t have the same charm as before. The filmmakers found an incredible way to wrap up the material. To describe it as moving is not enough. The depth that this denouement goes to is iconic. It may not have the same literary clout as more recent Pixar films, but the emotions carry it through.