WHEN the first Toy Story was released, John Major was PM and his party was tearing itself to pieces over Europe. Now along comes Toy Story number four, there is another PM in charge, and a new one on the way, and the Conservative Party, etc. And in another 25 years … no, let’s stop there.
The point is that some things never change, for good and ill. In the case of Pixar’s animated creation it is certainly for the former. It has been a long wait since Toy Story 3, so long, nine years, one did begin to wonder if Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the toys that come alive when no human is around, were coming back at all. Then again, number three made a record one billion plus at the box office, so a return was inevitable.
Worth the wait? Yes, though not if you are expecting anything dramatically different in the story department.
Toy Story 3 ended with Andy giving his box of toys to Bonnie as he set off for college. As Josh Cooley’s tale begins, Bonnie is about to start nursery, a big milestone in her life. On her first day there she invents a new toy for herself out of a plastic spork (a cross between a fork and a spoon). It is a piece of rubbish (a single use plastic to boot. Boo!), but he is Bonnie’s favourite toy in the world.
As such he is destined to get lost and have to be rescued by Woody and the rest of the gang. Toy Story fans might feel as though they have been through this movie before, and they have. Every Toy Story is about things being left behind, be it toys, or childhood, even parents to some extent as children become more independent.
Even so, the lack of a truly original story after nine years of waiting may disappoint some. But there is plenty to compensate, starting with a reunion between Bo Peep and Woody. This is a different Bo to the one Woody remembers, one more in keeping with these girl power times. Previously given away by her owner, Bo chose to take herself off the shelf and is now living the life of a free toy, able to do as she pleases.
What else is there to see at the festival?
Part of the joy of Toy Story is becoming reacquainted with old pals (Hamm, Bitey White, Mr Pricklepants and all), and finding new ones. Carnival toys Ducky and Bunny (Keegan Michael-Kay and Jordan Peele) are welcome additions, being responsible for some of the film’s biggest laughs.
The joke spread spans all the ages, with lots of Easter eggs for the most dedicated fans to collect, and the hyper-real animation is as stunning as ever. Toy Story is still far ahead of anything else out there in animation land. Enjoy.
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