Logan Sork Film Reviews
Toy Story 4
When it was announced that Disney and Pixar would be making a fourth installment to the beloved Toy Story franchise, I was genuinely angry. The animated trilogy is one of the best film trilogies ever made and are some of my personal favorite animated films ever made. With the wonderful characters and heartwarming stories getting a perfect conclusion in 2010 with Toy Story 3, I feared that this would simply be a cash grab that would damage the legacy of the films. The marketing for this film did little to stop these fears, as it looked a little too similar to other subpar Pixar sequels. When watching this movie however, I was overjoyed to realize that the film is not a shameful attempt to capitalize on a familiar franchise, but a heartwarming epilogue to the wonderful characters of this fantastic series.
Toy Story 4 Is directed by Josh Cooley and is the fourth installment of the iconic animated franchise. The film follows Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jesse (Joan Cusack) and the rest of the gang as they get acquainted with their new owner, Bonnie, after Andy donated them to her as he went off to college. While the rest of the gang seems to be adjusting fine, Woody still has a hard time of letting go of Andy, remembering the all of the fond memories they shared together. One day, they are introduced to a new toy named Forky (Tony Hale), which bonnie made using a spork and is her new favorite. Seeing the strong connection between the two of them, Woody vows to keep Forky safe and instruct him on what it means to be a good toy for their child. Things go wrong however when Forky is lost on the family’s road trip, leaving bonnie devastated. When Woody ventures out to find Forky, he finds a surprising ally in Bo Peep (Anne Potts), a toy that was once part of the gang but was given away many years ago. As the two rekindle their relationship, they must work together to find Forky before they are left behind.
Upon viewing the film, the first thing one will notice is how breathtaking the amination quality of this movie is. The original Toy Story made cinematic history by being the first ever film to be entirely computer generated, and it still holds up quite well to this day. This film shows just how far that technology has come as the animation in this film is simply lifelike. The detail that goes into these characters is absolutely insane as you are able to make out even the smallest details on each one. The improvements to the technology are also made apparent by the set designs and the objects our characters interact with. While the characters still maintain the signature cartoon aesthetic we are used to, these elements, such as the town in which the film takes place and the rain in the opening sequence, look as if they are ripped straight from the real world. Even if the story disappointed, this film would have undoubtably been a visual feast for the eyes.
Thankfully though, the film’s story does anything but disappoint. While the previous installment served as a satisfying conclusion to the main trilogy, this one serves as a emotional epilogue to the wonderful characters we have grown to love over the years. The story in this film never feels like it’s running over the same beats as the previous installments, as it finds a lot of unique directions to take the characters in. The themes and ideas explored in this film are also very interesting, as it asks the audience to think about what toys mean to them, and even has our characters questioning what happens to them once they are done caring for their child. These deep themes and ideas allow the film to standout from the rest of the series as it explores a unique area not brought up in the previous entries. And while the basic plot structure remains the same as the previous films, the writers find interesting ways to keep it fresh without feeling derivative, something that not many sequels can do.
As for what makes this film really special, it’s the same thing that makes all of these films special and that is the characters. This film continues to develop our favorite animated toys even further, resulting in some of the best character moments of the series. Though it can get a little overcrowded at times due to the new characters getting introduced, there are moments for each character to shine and shine bright they do. The emotions these characters elicit can be attributed to the fantastic actors portraying them. Franchise veterans Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are simply perfect as Woody and Buzz respectively and their fantastic friendship is developed even further in this film. The relationship between Woody and Bo Peep is also explored in compelling way, as they each have their own idea of what is best for toys that creates a nice roadblock for them to work over. The newcomers also bring a lot of fun to the film, whether it be Tony Hale’s delightfully dim witted Forky or Keanu Reeve’s scene stealing Duke Caboom each character has their own brand of fun to bring to the film.
Between the breathtaking animation, fantastic story and wonderful characters, Toy Story 4 turns from the film I didn’t want to happen to the film I didn’t know I wanted. This heartwarming adventure not only succeeds in giving our characters another great sendoff but does so without damaging the legacy of the previous installments. The film is not only an amazing sequel to a beloved franchise but a great film in its own right, and one of the best of the year.
9.5/10