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Andy: Thanks, Guys...
What many
are assuming is the final installment in the "Toy Story" franchise
(until Disney assigns these characters to a new child protagonist) is an
otherwise classy and entertaining finisher to what has been a three part
exploration in to childhood and the doldrums of growing up and getting
rid of the past. While the child audience has taken great joy in the
adventures of Buzz Lightyear and Woody for the last ten years, like
every other Pixar production it's about much more than what's on the
surface. "Toy Story 3" much like its predecessors is about recalling a
more innocent time and the relics of our past having to face that
they're just not needed anymore. What with their owner Andy on the way
to college, the entire toy box in Andy's room has to get together and
keep their bonds tightened in the face of their fading importance in his
life, and avoid the inevitability that something will happen where
they'll all have to separate for good whether if its with a new owner
or... being shredded in a dumpster. Even with the classic "Toy Story"
comedy and whimsy there's an undertone of sadness present throughout the
story as you can sense the characters' desperation to look for a way to
remain relevant in the new world where Andy's new toys are a cell phone
and his car. In one sad instance the toys prank call Andy just so he has
an excuse to dig in to his toy box and hold them, if even for a second.
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Never
prone to stick to one dimension of their concept, Pixar
explores another realm of childhood: daycare. In the center
of the story we have two basic premises. Buzz and his pals
experience the full on torment and carnage of children who
are most zealous in their playtime with the new toys, while
Woody is hold up with new character Bonnie among her small
group of teddy bears trying to get back to Andy after an
unfortunate mix-up. |
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While I feared the array of new
characters would clutter up the entire narrative originally,
thankfully all of the new characters are handled very well with
vivid characterization in spite of their limited and shared screen
time. The introduction of Ken (Michael Keaton in a very sharp
performance), Lotso (Ned Beatty) and various others (Totoro!) are
hilarious and they are given key roles in the full circle plot (Totoro!)
that soon becomes everyone's mission to go back where they belong as
their time runs out with Andy preparing to leave home. Ultimately
while alliances are formed with minor characters (ahem--Totoro!) and
antagonists are unveiled, the whole point of the story is that these
toys are struggling to stay wanted and desired in their children's
lives and will do whatever it takes to preserve their importance.
The animation is as incredible as always with some of the characters
given their own idiosyncrasies that stick true to their forms. The
Lotso teddy is always smooth and fluid while Ken is stiff and given
limited mobility. In spite of these characters motives, the writers
never focus on black and white but ask us instead to understand
their intentions by revealing their similar back stories that
involve love that was showered upon them and taken away with the
passing of time and aging loved ones. Like all of the "Toy Story"
acts, the central cause for tragedy and happiness is love and how
these toy may thrive on it and may actually be alive because of it.
The ultimate question lingers: If the love ceases to
exist for them, do they die? Or do they stop existing? Do they know
something the audience doesn't? And will they end up in heaven (with
Andy), hell (in the dumpster), or purgatory (the attic)? Like the former
films in the series, "Toy Story 3" basically becomes another version of
"The Great Escape" as the toys must escape the daycare center and the
rival toys to get back to Andy and the writers make great use of this
time to add little quirks to the new characters, make use out of the
classic cast with a twist as Lotso and his thugs find a way to turn Buzz
in to the new enemy when he discovers their master plot for the
newcomers in the center. The final act in the life of Buzz, Woody and
pals becomes increasingly dramatic and in the end Andy becomes a symbol
for the heart of the tale: his mother, who must also face that she is
losing her son as he grows up, and must realize that she'll play a
secondary role in his development as he heads off to face a new chapter
in his life. If this is the final chapter of the toys from Pixar, then I
couldn't have imagined a better send off. If you can keep it together in
the final scenes where Andy must face that it's time to move on with his
life, then you're made of stone. Pixar just continues topping
themselves.
Let's face it people, "Toy Story" is not all that
original and this third entry makes it apparent. With shades of
"Winnie the Pooh," the folks at Pixar have also narrowly avoided the
fact that their trilogy is a more advanced version of "The Brave
Little Toaster." They seem to come face to face with that evident
comparison by turning the second half of the story in to a full on
remake as these artifacts must fight for their position in their
previous owners life as he grows up and moves on. There's even a
scene involving a dumpster and a dreaded giant magnet. While many
will dispute this glaring similarity, it's a shame we couldn't have
closed out on a more innovative and unique note instead of a simple
harrowing escape climax. Sadly my favorite character Buzz isn't
given much to do here as Tim Allen is noticeably sparse on dialogue
here only providing bits and pieces of speeches every so often and
is taken out of his role mid-way when a convenient twist allows for
another actor to take on his character for an entire twenty or so
minutes. Buzz has always been the second half of the core team to
"Toy Story" and he doesn't have as much significance here. That
greater portion is handed to Woody and Jesse who practically
replaces Buzz for a better half of the entire story especially when
the tension keeps the toys fighting their way out of the daycare
center. It's a shame for the assumed final leg of the trilogy, Buzz
isn't given more to do or more of a spotlight.
While I would have loved to see a lot more of Buzz and
hear a lot more from Tim Allen, "Toy Story 3" is yet another Pixar gem
that hides its themes of love, loss, and heartbreak under coating of
vivid characters, top notch acting, brilliant production qualities, and
incredible animation. In spite of this being just a redux of "The Brave
Little Toaster," this is one in only a hand full of excellent movies of
2010, and I loved it to pieces just the same.
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