Review of Toy Story 3 (2010) by Thomas B — 30 Jan 2015

In 1995, Toy Story broke the mould, being the first ever completely CG animation. Not only that, it was a great film to boot. Four years later, Pixar did their level best to better their previous offering, and very nearly succeeded by embedding their characters with heartfelt emotion. And in 2010, the third and final installment of the Toy Story series features state of the art animation and 3D technology as well as an abundance of new characters, and the old gang of Woody and his pals. It also happens to be a strong contender for the best one of the series. .

Andy is 17, and about to leave for college. Woody and the gang haven't been played with in years and are experiencing some major anxiety about their destiny; whether it will be in the safety of the attic or in the trash. After a mix-up at the house, the toys take matters into their own hands and donate themselves to Sunnyside Daycare. Woody decides to head home out of loyalty to Andy, but winds up winds up somewhere else entirely, where he finds out that Sunnyside is not the toy heaven it appears to be. .

In the past when a series has decided to create a third instalment, the results are usually less than spectacular. Eg. Aliens 3, The Godfather Part III, etc. Whilst these 'threequels' aren't especially bad, it kind of makes you wish that they had stopped at two. However, with Toy Story 3, it makes the series even better by its inclusion, and rounds the series off while at the same time feeling effortless, as if it doesn't even feel the pressure of being the last in an incredible set with two such daunting triumphs looming over it. And it's this feeling which makes the film such a joy to watch as well as being incredibly effecting emotionally. These characters become more than just pieces of binary, they become as real and close to the audience as any live action character could possibly be. Toy Story 3 achieves this, as well as keeping the brilliant scripting style of the previous two and keeping the film entertaining for adults and kids alike. .

The animation in Toy Story is top notch. It looks absolutely incredible, from the dust motes which drift through the air, to every tiny detail about the toys themselves. In true Toy Story style, not one detail is forgotten, from tiny biro marks on Buzz's wings to Lotso's fine pink hair. It's also in 3D, which makes for a fully immersive experience without a single moment to jerk you out of the actual storytelling. However, even with the flawless animation, Lee Unkrich has made sure that each of the toys stay true to their predecessor's counterparts. They move the same, they talk the same, they act the same, whilst feeling smoother and more real than ever before. .

Unkrich's direction is something which should be studied well by many live-action directors. Rather than phoning it in, Unkrich makes the most of the opportunity to literally do whatever he wants in terms of shot movement. He mimics well known shots to great comedic effects, displaying a fantastic feel for the funnier moments, but he also knows when to let the characters do the work, showing a fantastic restraint during the more emotional scenes. Whether he's throwing us into the middle of a train heist or starting up every audience member's waterworks, he is completely self-assured and at totally at ease. .

The script, as usual is brilliant. As with the first two films, there is a wide selection of well chosen parody to choose from, as well as well placed innuendo which will go whistling over the children's heads. And, also like the first two, the emotional moments are pitch perfect, never feeling so condescending that the adults get bored, but never so complex that the kids don't know what's going on. .

And while all the technical brilliance is going on, it's strung together by scenes so gloriously action-packed that you'll find it difficult to stay in your seat. From that brilliant opening sequence to one of the best prison escapes ever, the film is perfectly paced with its action scenes. Buzz is back in spectacular action-hero form, this time with an inspired Spanish twist, and Woody is fantastic as our daring, though slightly out of his depth, leader. And as the set pieces build up in a style worthy of a James Cameron film, the toys are thrown into one of the most daring, overwhelming situations they've ever encountered. And whilst the emotion could easily have been lost in such an awesome display, the toys display more humanity than any animated character has a right to possess and manage to break every viewer's heart. .

And yet, in the end, there is a final trump card which Unkrich draws with brilliant style. The film's deneoument is one of the best scene's of the year, not to mention history, as Unkrich bring the trilogy to its close with one of the most raw, touching scenes ever to grace our screens which sums up the film, and the series, perfectly without ever feeling cheap or rushed. .

It's sad to see the franchise go, but it's great to see that they left on such a high note, becoming the highest grossing animated film of all time and one of the most touching also. .

Definings Scene: .

The final scene. Of course.