Andy, the previously seldom seen little boy to whom the central toy characters belong, has grown up and is about to head off to college. As a family-friendly film, Andy is still pretty wholesome at heart and there isn't even the slightest hint of "American Pie" or "Superbad"-esque antics, but it is clear that he has outgrown Woody the cowboy, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the toys in his chest. In fact, as he prepares to pack up, Andy's mother offers the suggestion that he should decide which toys go with him to college, which go into storage in the attic, which get donated to a local day care center, and which go in the garbage. The latter of course is a fate worse than death for a toy. After a near-tragic misunderstanding, where Andy's mom mistakes the trash bag full of toys intended for the attic to be actual trash, the whole gang narrowly avoids the garbage collector, putting themselves in the "donation" box instead. Only Woody was deemed college-worthy by Andy, and thus begins the series of adventures (and misadventures) you'd expect in a "Toy Story" film.
At first, the toys' new home, Sunnyside Day Care, seems to be an ideal place for the toys to get the play they desire so much. The kids may age, it is explained, but as they grow older, a fresh batch of new kids take their place. But all is not as it seems, and for the group of new arrivals, the day care is worse than being relegated to the attic -- more like Attica, for toys.
"Toy Story 3" offers a fresh spin on the tale, while conjuring elements from past POW and prison escape films. The pacing is consistent and moves along steadily, with just a few moments where it slows down a tad too much. Of course you know what will happen next, but after a long break in the series, it seems that the creators want to milk it a bit, tugging a bit more on the heartstrings, and a focusing a bit less on the funnybone, though the film does still have priceless comedic moments. Many of the funny points come from new characters, such as the Ken doll (voiced by Michael Keaton), and his fabulous wardrobe, but our old favorites also offer some laughs, such as a previously unknown Spanish language mode on Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen), which turns the straight-laced astronaut into a tango-dancing Latin lover.
As the first outing developed from scratch in 3D*, "Toy Story 3" doesn't overdo it either. Stuff doesn't really fly off the screen making you duck for cover, which is a good thing. The effect certainly could have been overdone, and instead the makers have wisely kept it toned down. Instead the 3D enhances the immersive experience, mostly - and we do say mostly, because there are some segments where the visuals are so flat it could make you wonder why you've bothered to put on the glasses. This is especially true along the edges, and towards the bottom of the screen. Overall the 3D experience here is more like looking through a window, with good depth of field, but not too much projecting outward from the screen and into your face.
Likewise, more "humans" make an appearance in this one than in past "Toy Story" films, and this sort of breaks the illusion a little. Andy, his sister Molly, their mother and the other children have a true animated quality. Perhaps fear of falling into the "uncanny valley" - where animated characters have a creepy or unnatural appearance as they look more lifelike - and to be consistent with past films in the series, the humans don't even come close to passing for real people. "Avatar" this is not, but for the most part this isn't a problem, because this one isn't meant to be about Andy or the other humans in the film. They're just the props that help to tell the tale. It's really about Andy's toys dealing with him growing up, moving on with his life. And in that it offers a satisfying new chapter in the series -- one that should make you feel good about passing your own old action figures and dolls to a deserving child... just make sure you don't put them in a trash bag.
*"Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" were recently re-released in 3D in theaters and we expect the inevitable Blu-ray 3D releases of all three in some as yet unannounced Toy Story Blu-ray 3D Boxed Set.
| Movie title | Toy Story 3 |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2010 |
| MPAA Rating | G |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | While not exactly playtime for Woody, Buzz and the gang, the third outing in the Pixar series offers a fresh, fun and action-packed adventure. |
