Review: Toy Story 4
More nostalgia toys.
Several years after that perfect ending to this trilogy from my childhood we're back with the toys again. This time, their new child Molly is ignoring Woody (Tom Hanks) but still playing with everyone else. When he sneaks into her bookbag and goes to her first day of Kindergarten and watches her make Forky (Tony Hale) he becomes determined to force him to stay even after he escapes several times.
If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you probably already know that I'm not a fan of the Toy Story franchise. Like most 90's kids, I loved the first one but unlike everyone else I flat out disliked the second and third. Now we're at a fourth installment, which story wise is better than 2 and 3 but still just isn't very compelling.
I'm glad the writers finally decided to do something different and not just repeat the same villain this time around. The idea of "lost toys" and seeing Bo Peep again was nice but the cat and mouse game that Woody and Forky play throughout really drags and makes this film feel a lot longer than it really is. I also found myself getting annoyed with Molly and Forky which probably wasn't the desired reaction. Unlike the other installments, I laughed a few times which was a nice change.
I'm quite torn on this. I hated Toy Story 3, but thought the ending worked really well for the overall series. This film feels unnecessary, yet it's better than the two that came before it. It's kind of a shame that this film will probably win the animated Oscar just because it's Toy Story, when another animated franchise - How To Train Your Dragon - also bowed out this year with a much better final film.
Recommended: No
Grade: C+
Memorable Quote: "....you got a kid?" - Ducky (Keegan Michael Key)
I can understand your gripes about the franchise as I will say that you at least you don't have an agenda on the film unlike some asshole named Cole Smithey who claims the film series is capitalist propaganda.
ReplyDeleteCapitalist Propaganda? Okay, I have to read that take. lmao
DeleteAw, I really liked this one, but it does feel totally unnecessary. But....the new characters, for me, completely justified its existence.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm in the major minority with the Toy Story.
DeleteThis film franchise will missed ❤️💛💜💙
ReplyDeleteI'll miss the How TO Train Your Dragon franchise.
DeleteThis one felt different compared to the other films. It felt darker, and somehow much more grown-up in terms of plot. Felt the same as you did about Molly and Forky.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I think they made it in mind with their original audience who had TS1 when they were kids.
DeleteI barely even remember the first three so I am sure I will like this,once it drops on dvd, because of stupid dubbing I cannot see it in the cinema :/
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it when you finally get to see it. I know you'll love Keanu!
DeleteI liked all 3 to be honest even Mr. Nasty Pants Kelsey Grammar in the 2nd movie. I have to admit that Hollywood needs to make some films other than franchises...It`s beginning to get a bit much
ReplyDeleteI agree. Some franchises are great but I miss those amazing one offs we get like WALL-E, Up, or Brave.
DeleteNice review! I really wanted to see this for Bo Peep, but I wasn't in a rush for the rest of the plot. I might check it out sometime this year. lol I liked Toy Story 2, but loathed the third one too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like this better than 2 at least. I'm just happy not to be the only one that didn't like TS3.
DeleteI used to love the previous Toy Story movies. Of course, I watched them when I was quite younger and this release made me nostalgic. However, I agree with one of the comments that said it is darker; more for an ‘adult’ audience.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. It's for those of us who grew up, I think.
DeleteWhen i rewatched 4 the first time this year, I was astonished by how jarring it was compared to the first three films. I don’t have any issue with the Bo Peep character concept, but it was so far beyond what we had previously seen from Bo’s calm demeanor that it didn’t feel like Bo Peep; she might as well have been a new character. Had they acknowledged that this was a departure from her characterization in Toy Story 1-2 and more thoroughly explored what experiences got her to this point, I wouldn’t have had a problem with this. But instead, they suggested that this was the character Bo has always been, as reflected in the flashback scene in the beginning of the film. When Woody climbs onto Molly’s desk to look out the window, she strikes an action pose with her cane and immediately springs into action for the rescue mission, something she never did besides asking Rocky Gibraltar to lower the van ramp in the first film. For a film so otherwise careful about honoring the legacy of its predecessors, this felt like a jarring retcon. Andy’s others toys don’t even do anything; I honestly could not tell you anything most of them contributed to the story. Jessie felt particularly underutilized - she did contribute to the arc of Woody feeling a lack of purpose, but this was when she was in toy mode, and so ultimately this was instigated by Bonnie. She also lacked any notable interactions with Buzz, a big disappointment given how much fun those previously proved to be. Mr. Potato Head’s involvement is excused due to the passing of Don Rickles, but the others really felt tossed aside. The aliens saved the lives of the entire main cast at the end of Toy Story 3. Did they even have a single line of dialogue here? Having Bonnie forget Woody and Woody leaving the gang, I cannot help but feel it detracts from the overarching story of the films as a series. In Toy Story 3, Andy never intends to give Woody away to Bonnie, and only does so when he sees that she is visibly attached to him. He’s reluctant, but ultimately decides that Bonnie is the right kid for Woody, and asks her to take extra special care of him. That entire interaction was so delicately crafted to make us feel comfortable with the toys moving on to a new owner. But in the small amount of time implied to have happened in between Toy Story 3 and 4, Bonnie becomes so disinterested in Woody that he feels comfortable leaving her. In setting up this new character arc for Woody, they effectively take away from the character arc with Andy and Bonnie, which feels dissatisfying when looking at the films as a series.
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