Review of Toy Story 3 (2010) by Matt M — 06 Jan 2014

When posed the question of what the best trilogy in cinema history may be, most people will predictably answer the usual names from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings. Yet, there may an easier answer, so obvious as to initially escape people's minds that will nevertheless in fact be met by much agreement.

The answer is, Toy Story. This trilogy did the unthinkable. Not only did the 1995 set unprecedented standards by revolutionising and invigorating the animation genre both technically and creatively, but also amazingly not only replicated its high standards with its 1999 sequels but downright arguably did even better.

More than ten years later, Toy Story returns. Here, we meet Woody, Buzz and the gang as they are inevitably abandoned by their owner Andy, who has grown up and about to leave home to go to college. Out of carelessness, they are mistakenly delivered to a daycare centre that ends up being a nightmarish place.

This third film is funny, entertaining and nostalgic, all elements that were also found it its previous film. Furthermore, here we find the same balance of humour and adventure that had made the previous two films so rewardingly entertaining.

Still, there is more. Perhaps playing with commons sense, Toy Story's plot takes place years from the setting of the last film. Intelligently knowing that a lot of its audience would have been made up of people who had seen the previous two films at a young age, Unkrich's film puts emphasis on the coming of age aspects, on the nostalgia that is often harrowing and makes the storyline with its developments, its twists and its turns even more intense through maturity but also through the audience's connection with the colourful character, a connection that itself has had time to mature with time.

It is no wonder hence that Toy Story 3 is a perfect and rewarding final chapter to a great trilogy, rewarding in every aspect and more than just solid gold entertainment. This film was also nominated for a Best Picture award at the Oscars that year and was arguably far better at transmitting its emotions and feelings in a more genuine way than the other films nominated.