Toy Story 3: Film Review
Woody and co are back with a bang in the final instalment of the Toy Story ‘saga’. A decade has passed since their last outing and our plastic friends show no signs of gathering dust.
Pixar delivers a fresh, funny finale to a franchise which has captured the imagination of adults and children alike since its inception in 1995.
Toy Story 3: Andy, Woody and Buzz
The action picks up with Andy heading off to college. Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang, in need of a new home, find a fresh start in the Sunnyside daycare centre. It quickly becomes apparent that the seemingly idyllic nursery isn’t all that its cracked up to be.
Director Lee Unkrich handles the obligatory setup well, filling in the years gone by and setting up the action which follows.
Things really get underway though, when we enter the Sunnyside daycare centre. Perfect pacing follows thereafter, with a prison-break theme providing genuinely funny, moving and scary moments.
Elements of film-noir also break through the screen, adding an occasionally sinister tinge.
Toy Story 3: Boy Meets World
Toy Story 3 is the most mature in the series. That’s not to say it isn’t funny. It’ll leave you with more stitches than a drunken doctor. What really impressed me though was Unkrich’s ability to seamlessly blend humour with darker adult themes.
Cut in the mould of traditional children’s literature, Toy Story 3 touches on issues of abandonment, death and the circle of life.
An additional layer of poignancy is added by way of the fact that many of the viewers who started watching the franchise back in 1995 are now grown up themselves. It’s a kind of existential parallel between audience and film which really drives the key messages home.
Toy Story 3: The Final Curtain
Toy Story 3 cements the series as one of the greatest movie franchises of all time. The perfect trilogy is a rare, if non-existent thing.
Pixar insists this is the gang’s final adventure, but as the saying goes: in Hollywood, money talks.
So don’t be surprised if Woody and co spring forth from the toy box in the future. Let’s hope not though – some things are just perfect as they are.
Rating: 
– available on Blu-ray and DVD
Aidan
12:41 pm, August 2, 2010
Loved the film too. A fitting end to a great franchise – thanks for the review.
Ross Wheatley
1:35 pm, August 2, 2010
The whole franchise was fantastic, loved every film of the Toy Story Trilogy. Lets hope they don’t ruin it by making a fourth. Nice review, Matt!
Jane
1:37 pm, August 2, 2010
Film was brilliant, going to re-watch at cinema very soon! You’re right to say it appeals to both adults and children alike because I had a great time!
The Spleen
7:56 pm, August 9, 2010
A bleak children’s film, i can see why some kids would have been freaked out. Overall the perfect way to END. The last act really comes fulll circle do not do more please. Mrs Spleen was choking back tears at the end, an enthralling film. Wish others put as much effort into characterisation as they did in the script too. Everyone felt part of the story and not there to shift merchandise.
natalie
6:41 pm, August 11, 2010
Me and my daughter loved this film….brought back some of my child hood memorys and was happy for my daughter to experiencen it too…awesome review matt i just hope they do bring another one out though x x
Al Fuller
7:53 pm, August 20, 2010
Can’t think of a better trilogy of films! Can anyone?
Matt
8:50 pm, August 20, 2010
It exceeds a triology, but I’d go for the Police Academy series.
Each film is better than the last and Steve Guttenberg’s performance puts him in the same league as De Niro and Pacino.
Fail that, what about the Bourne films? They all rock and the last one blew me away. The Three Colours trilogy is also great.
Any other ideas?
Alex Barber
9:09 pm, August 20, 2010
Ohhh, this is a good one. With Toy Story 3 proving trilogies can be consistent it’s raised the benchmark for past and future threesomes.
How about Indian Jones, the first three. Love all those films. And while we’re at, how about a little nod to sequels that are as good as, or better, than the original.
I’d have to go for Temriantor 2 and Aliens 2.
Alex
Jane
9:29 pm, August 20, 2010
I really love all the star wars films, the first three and more recent ones. Me and my sons would have star wars nights all the time so they have a special place for me.
jen
1:40 am, August 21, 2010
The Naked Gun films alway crack me up and what about worst sequel ever….i go with predators 2 and speed 2…..both real bad.
Ross Wheatley
3:06 am, August 23, 2010
its back to the future for me. top films, last one prob weakest, still great tho.
You so wrong abotu predator 2 Jen, why do people miss how good it is? go back and watch it, change your mind.
worst sequel for me would be rocky 5. That tommy gunn was an idiot lol.
Al are you saying toy story is the best trilogy ever?
Al Fuller
12:20 pm, August 23, 2010
Yep.
I must admit tho the naked gun films and the back to the future ones are also pretty hot. Some people might put the lord of the rings three in too but i don’t think i would!
Jasmine
12:54 pm, October 19, 2010
everybody in the cinema was crying at the end, but this film didn’t move me.
I loved it when Buzz lightyear went all Spanish, apart from that I think I might be the only person in the world hwo really didn’t enjoy this film.
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