Anthony's Film Review - Toy Story 4 (2019)

Just when you think there couldn't be another Toy Story, here's another that is funny and bittersweet...

I did not expect to see a fourth Toy Story movie made. If you've seen Toy Story 3, you'll recall that its ending could be seen as a way to wrap up the saga. Even the people behind the movies felt that way at first, but apparently, a few new ideas did get their creative gears turning, and they ultimately led to a fourth Toy Story adventure. After seeing Toy Story 4, I will say that, yes, the new ideas explored here are pretty cool. Also, like Toy Story 3, this Toy Story movie could also serve as the end of the series, though it's not so tightly closed that another Toy Story is impossible. Whatever the case may be, at least Toy Story 4 is another fun entry in the series, providing both fun adventure and moments of bittersweet emotion.

So here's the plot. The gang of toys, including Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Rex, and plenty of others, are no longer owned by the boy Andy. They now belong to a little girl named Bonnie. The toys do keep her happy, until she goes to school to start kindergarten. She is sad at first, but with the help of Woody who sneaks off to school with her, she finds joy again by creating a new toy: Forky, who is constructed from various trash items. The fact that she herself created Forky makes this toy very meaningful to her. However, during a road trip with her parents, Forky escapes, out of his discomfort with being a toy. Woody goes after Forky, setting off a wild adventure that is primarily set in two adjacent locations: an antique store and a carnival.

While it's great to see familiar Toy Story characters, you'll definitely love the new ones introduced here. Besides Forky, there's a funny pair of stuffed animals, Ducky and Bunny, waiting to be won as the top prize at a carnival game. Another character is a stuntman toy named Duke Caboom, who is funny because he is so reluctant to do a long stunt jump on his motorcycle. In the antique store, there is the villainous Gabby Gabby, a doll who longs for a voice box to replace her defective one, plus her scary ventriloquist dummy henchmen. But best of all, there is the return of a familiar character in a whole new form. Bo Peep, a porcelain lady who had resided in the bedroom of Andy's sister, had been given away to the antique store, but after several boring years of being on the store shelf, decided to escape. She is now a tough independent lady, a far cry from her previous persona. This may not be too much of a surprise when you consider that, in real life, certain issues have given women much more of a voice than ever.

Regarding the themes in Toy Story 4, I would say that there are essentially two. One is the conflict between one's nature and one's learned role in life. This is best illustrated with Forky, who naturally feels happy being in a trash can with other trash items, but over time, learns to appreciate his new role as a toy for a child. The other theme is freedom of choice. The previous Toy Story movies have us believe that toys who are owned by a child are happy and secure and those that are not owned by any child are sad and live unfulfilling lives. Toy Story 4 gives us the other side of each scenario: some toys in a child's home are mistreated by the child, and, in the case of Bo Peep, some unowned childless toys can be happy with the freedom they have. There's really no one situation that is best for all, but rather, each situation has its pros and cons and it's up to each individual to decide which is best. When you look at both themes together, you could say this is an existential story, because it's all about what fulfills each character and what each one is destined to be.

Let's not forget the bittersweet moments of Toy Story 4. In my opinion, the first two Toy Story movies are the most emotional and Toy Story 3 has some emotion intertwined with a fun adventure. I would classify Toy Story 4 as being another Toy Story 3, though with perhaps a little more emotional weight. I'm not going into too much detail about some of the specific moments. I will say this, though. It is said that both Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, who voiced Woody and Buzz Lightyear respectively, got real emotional when they were doing their last lines in this movie. You will likely feel the same way as you watch the last several minutes of Toy Story 4, when you will have to come to grips with what is happening. Even if most of the movie may feel like a throwaway adventure, the finale of Toy Story 4 is still something to wait for.

In conclusion, I am happy to say that Toy Story 4 avoids being a disappointment. Far from it. It's another good Toy Story movie, with the elements you're used to. Like I said above, this is a movie that can wrap up the Toy Story series or lend itself to another follow-up, whatever the film crew desires. At least it doesn't leave the audience hanging. Whatever happens, I appreciate all the work that went into not only Toy Story 4 but also its three predecessors. This is a great series of films for the whole family to enjoy, letting kids be kids and letting adults living out their inner child.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Toy Story 4, visit the Internet Movie Database.

In addition, check out my reviews of the following:

The Toy Story Films