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When Toy Story 3 came to an end nine years ago, we all dried our eyes and bid farewell to the franchise, satisfied with the characters’ send-off. But the toys weren’t quite done yet—so now they’re back for more in Toy Story 4.
Toy Story 4 catches up with Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and the other toys as Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw) prepares to start kindergarten. In order to help with the transition, Woody tags along for orientation and guides her as she uses scraps and trash to make a new friend, Forky (Tony Hale). As the family sets out on the final road trip of summer, Woody tries to help Forky adjust to life as a toy—but when Forky jumps out of the RV window, Woody is forced to go on a rescue mission.
The rest of the story then follows sweet, loyal Woody as he goes above and beyond for his kid. Even though he’s no longer the favorite toy, he’s eternally devoted to making sure that Bonnie is happy—and if that means spending every minute of every day keeping her beloved spork from returning to the trash can, so be it.
Woody’s journey is one of reflection and self-discovery, but it’s also one of action and adventure and laugh-out-loud fun. For the most part, the film sticks with the familiar Toy Story formulas. And that’s okay—because those formulas have worked for nearly a quarter of a century. While the supporting cast sometimes changes and the animation just keeps getting more breathtakingly lifelike, the story is comfortable—and familiar. And the balance here is just right. As Woody contemplates his duty as Bonnie’s toy, he also faces off against a creepy doll and her mannequin goons, he reconnects with Bo Peep (Annie Potts), and he meets plenty of new faces, too—as does Buzz, who goes on his own adventure through a busy carnival. While there’s always that slightly melancholy undertone—that ever-present feeling of dread that something absolutely gut-wrenching is most likely coming—the new characters work together with the beloved favorites to make it one of the more playful films in the franchise. From comedy duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as stuffed animals in search of a home to Keanu Reeves as Canadian stunt toy Duke Caboom, they’ll keep audiences laughing until it’s time to bid yet another misty-eyed farewell to Bonnie’s lovably devoted toys.
If you were surprised (and maybe just slightly annoyed) when you heard that Pixar was making another Toy Story movie, you’re definitely not alone. Why continue a series that ended so well? But Toy Story 4 is a strong addition to the story—one that definitely does the toys, their story, and their fans justice.
Blu-ray Review:
Whenever Pixar releases another movie on Blu-ray, it means that fans get to take another look behind the scenes at the studio’s quirky world of animation. And the Toy Story 4 Blu-ray definitely doesn’t disappoint—and it’s so loaded with features that it comes with an extra disc just to hold the overflow.
Some of the extras on the release explore the story and the characters—like Bo Rebooted, which follows the amazing team of women who created, animated, and voiced Bo. In fact, there’s a whole section on the bonus disc, called Toy Box that takes a look at five of the new characters (and you won’t want to miss the features on Duke Caboom and Ducky and Bunny).
My favorites, however, are always the ones that show the personalities involved in the filmmaking process. Toy Stories shows the playfulness of the studio—and the importance of toys to the cast and crew. Let’s Ride with Ally Maki examines the process of recording, editing, and producing dialogue in the quirkiest and most entertaining of ways. Anatomy of a Scene: Playground watches the scene with animators to examine the details, the Easter eggs, and the thought process that went into it. And even the commentary included with the deleted scenes offers a look at the director’s passion and enthusiasm for the project.
For fans of Pixar and the Toy Story movies—or even animation in general—there’s just so much to explore here. So be sure not to overlook that extra disc in your Blu-ray packaging—it’s filled with behind-the-scenes gems.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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