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Toy Story 4 Review: Tom Hanks and Tim Allen's film 'sporks' out the right blend between nostalgia and novelty
Toy Story 4 Review: Whether you are 8 or 40, Toy Story 4 is an apt choice for all generations and is the perfect blend between nostalgia and novelty.
Movie: Toy Story 4
Toy Story 4 Director: Josh Cooley
Toy Story 4 Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale
Toy Story 4 Stars: 4/5
It's the last dialogue in Toy Story 4 which aptly describes how I felt after watching the latest installment in the beloved franchise. Won't spoil it for you, but your best guess would probably be right. In the recent past, sequels have paticularly bombed but Pixar knows what clicks. Toy Story 3 may have seemed like the inevitable end for the franchise, but director Josh Cooley and writers Stephany Folsom and Andrew Stanton have blended the old and new with finesse.
Toy Story 4 takes off where the third part left us. It's heartbreaking to remember the end sequence when Andy donates the toys to Bonnie. However, we see that the toys are in good hands. But, the once beloved Woody (Tom Hanks) has been cast aside to the closet while the others are played with. It's his innate obsession with keeping kids happy that has the trusted sheriff accompany Bonnie to her Kindergarten orientation. When left on her own devices, a scared Bonnie, with the help of Woody, 'makes' a new friend, a sporky called Forky. The real adventure begins when the toys board a RV for a road trip with Bonnie and her parents. Woody encounters his past at Second Chance Antiques Shop, a certain Miss Bo Peep. Trouble arises when a terrifying rag doll (straight out of a horror flick) eyes Woody's voicebox and kidnaps Forky. Wanting to keep Bonnie happy, Woody jet sets on a roller-coaster ride to bring Forky back.
The storyline of Toy Story 4 follows the path of its predecessors, with a dark twist, which is beyond welcome. What makes it unique is that this film is purely based on various characters having existential crisis. Woody, in paticular, was lost for so many years and with the help of Bo, the journey becomes a 'Who I am?' path. On the other hand, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) may not have the biggest role but he goes on a path of finding his inner voice and thanks to him we are introduced to two plushies - Ducky and Bunny (Keegan- Michael Key and Jordan Peele), who add the right gags. Bo marks the returns of Annie Potts and this time, she makes us realise just how badly she was missed in Part 3. The endearing love story between Woody and Bo is what sticks out throughout the 100-minute-movie. The other toys don't have big roles but seeing Mr. Potato Head (the ever legendary Don Rickles) brought along the 'old is gold' aspect. Two MVP's of Toy Story 4 are Forky (Tony Hale) and Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves). Forky is the mere definition of us when we feel like 'trash' and is absolutely endearing, inspite of being just a spork.
On the other hand, Duke is the Canadian stuntman who is haunted by his past of not being able to match up to his commercial level stunts and provides the right balance of obvious puns. Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) is not the stereotypical villain you cast aside at the end (like Lotso in Toy Story 3). She is a grey character who you actually relate to. Also, Tony, Keanu and Christina could not have been a more perfect choice for the voiceovers. The humaness of these toys is what makes Toy Story such a beloved franchise.
It's the attention to detailing with the personality traits of each character (whether it be Woody losing his temper on why he needs to save Forky or even Gabby Gabby's inner insecurity) that is relatable. FYI, if you are wondering about the tearworks in Toy Story 4? Keep the tissues handy.
The intricacies of the the antique store is what will leave you mesmerised. From a mere speck of dust to the the chanderliers, which provided a spectacular light sequence, Pixar's realism about a bunch of toys leaves you astonised. The pacing of Toy Story 4 is extremely crisp and you not for a minute, are you left distracted.
Like me, if you grew up with Toy Story, you're just like Andy, who may get distracted every several years from other animated films who come along, but eventually, you always come back home. That's the magic of Toy Story 4. Whether you are 8 or 40, Woody and Buzz Lightyear never grow out of style, or generations.
It won't be wrong to say that Toy Story 4 is flagbearer of how a four-quel should be!
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