After eleven long years we finally grabbed some popcorn and took our seats for the third instalment in the Toy Story franchise. It goes without saying that, everyone here at the @rcade was dying to see this movie ever since it was announced way back when. We had extremely high hopes from the get go and it’s safe to say we weren’t disappointed by any means!
For those deprived of the original Toy Story and its sequel, or those not old enough to remember them, (damned kids!) here’s the back story; Cowboy Woody, space ranger Buzz Lightyear, The Potato Heads and their alien kids, Slinky Dog, cowgirl Jesse and her horse Bullseye, Ham the piggybank and Rex the cowardly dinosaur are all toys that have lived in Andy’s room for as long as they can remember. Now that seventeen year old Andy is growing up and moving away to college, the toys are destined for a spell in the attic. However, an unfortunate turn of events sees Andy’s mom donating them to a local day-care centre called Sunnyside instead. There, they are greeted by a motley crew of other toys, led by Lotso, the Lots-O-Huggin Bear. He tells them Sunnyside is toy paradise and considering the turnover of kids that pass through the day-care centre; our old friends are guaranteed to be played with for years and years! Woody feels like he is betraying Andy if he stays, but the other toys think they would be happier in Sunnyside so they let him leave on his own. After he escapes, things start to go downhill when Lotso takes a mean turn and it’s up to Woody to rescue his friends from toy hell!
Toy Story 3 had a lot of living up to do and it does so with amazing gusto! Everyone we’ve spoken to had serious trouble trying to think of a single thing they didn’t like about it. (Apart from that mean old Lotso of course!) The animation has obviously come on in leaps and bounds in the eleven years that have passed since Toy Story 2 and with the addition of 3D cinema in the mix, it all adds up to a spectacular viewing experience even the detail of the background is breathtaking! Pixar have done wonders with animated movies in the last few years with the likes of Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo and Up grossing millions at the box office. Toy Story 3 is definitely set to be the jewel in their crown, breaking records left, right and centre.
The casting crew undoubtedly chose the right people for the job in the original movie way back in 1995. Returning to their voice-over roles are Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz), Joan Cusack (Jesse) and Wallace Shawn (Rex) among many, many others! Joining them this time around are Ned Beatty (Lotso), Whoopi Goldberg (Stretch the sparkly purple Octopus) and Timothy Dalton (Mr Pricklepants, the classically trained hedgehog) to name but a few. One actor deserving a separate mention is Michael Keaton, who voices a highly entertaining, metrosexual Ken doll. (Swoon!)
Also worth noting is the short animation attached to the beginning of the movie entitled Day and Night. It strikes us as one of those movies that’s fun and light-hearted on the surface but deep down has a serious note, without sounding preachy. It keeps nicely in sync with the tone of the main feature and upholds the tradition of brilliant Pixar shorts.
There is no doubt in any of the minds here at the @rcade that Toy Story 3 is an incredible movie. It’s exciting, sad, and occasionally terrifying in all the right places. It easily finds its way into even the most reluctant of hearts. This is a movie that is definitely one for all the family. It holds the attention of kids both old and young making it very difficult, nay impossible, to dislike. Toy Story 3 gives everyone that grew up with Andy a sense of closure, and is, without question, a must-see.
