GO SEE THIS MOVIE.
The end.
What? You want more… okay then, here we go:
The film had some high expectations from me. I’ve been waiting for this film since it was announced nearly a decade ago, and I dreamed of the far-off year of 2011 (Later adjusted to 2010). Yet, while driving to the theater I made the comment “This could be a 90-minute walk cycle and I’d love it.” (In all honesty, I thought about writing part of my review before seeing the movie.)
I had high hopes and the film was twelve million percent better then expected.
Randy Newman signs back on the ticket to round out the trilogy, and man, definently some of his best work. This film better get an Academy Award Nomination for Best Song or Best Score or SOMETHING musical.
The film also featured four songs with vocals, We Belong Together, You’ve Got A Friend In Me, You’ve Got A Friend In Me (para el Buzz Español), and Zu-Zu (Ken’s Theme).
We Belong Together was excellent, and I think triumphs over even the classic You’ve Got A Friend In Me. It was cool to hear Friend in Me in Spanish, and the whole Spanish Buzz thing was very comical.
Moving on, the screenplay, penned by Michael Arndt (author of Little Miss Sunshine‘s screenplay), did not disappoint. One thing that was kind of bothersome was the constant jumping around. The story team presented a slew of different sub-plots, which must of required a crazy outline, but I think Arndt did succeed in tying them all together smoothly.
The characters also had complexities in this one. *Spoiler Alert* The feeling on Woody’s face (And Tom Hanks was genius in his delivery) when Rex comments that Bo Peep was gone. The story team also expanded on the Jessie-Buzz relationship, and actually brought attention to it.
The sequel aspect did not seem forced, something I was worried about. We also meet a torrent of new characters, which really contributed to the universe. One of my favorites was the *ANOTHER SPOILER ALERT – BIG ONE* villain, Lotso Hugging Bear. He looked so cuddly! And I was actually starting to get upset when Woody saved him, I thought “Darn it, he’s gonna turn good… I waited eleven years for a cliché ending?” but the team surprised me yet! Lotso and his “team” held such immense complexities, revealed and expanded upon by the story told by Chuckles the Sad Clown. Big Baby, despite being slightly creepy, had such feeling inside of himself… herself?
Toy Story has been the movie series of my generation, and it came to a close so perfectly. Leaving the theater, I thought two things – 1) Well… its over… it was awesome. 2) When can I see it again? The people in the theater, mostly teenagers, as it was a 9:30 showing, just held a deep respect for the film, I’m so glad the story of Woody and Buzz came to a happy close.
Random fun fact that I couldn’t fit anywhere else in the review – The top of the closing credits were written, I believe, in the same font as the opening credits of Toy Story. Closing it out the way it started out… in multiple ways.
You Can Also Check Out My Review of The Toy Story/Toy Story 2 3-D Double Feature, Click Here!
