I have now watched all Toy Story films in the cinema. I will
never forget my first experience with this franchise when the computer based
animation of Pixar was not exactly mainstream. Now, the Pixar way is the standard
for all to follow. While the Toy Story franchise hasn’t been exactly crowded
out it did have to make room for other top notch Pixar productions. With Toy Story 4 the saga clearly has reasserted its importance with the
usual high quality production of the Pixar team. Despite not being wholly
original or inventive in terms of its presentation it does manage to keep us
engaged with a very resonant emotional story.
The film brings back the old crew with Tom Hanks as the
voice of the ever loyal Woody and Buzz Lightyear voiced by Tim Allen along with
some characters we thought we would never hear from again such as Bo Peep
(voiced by Annie Potts). The most important new character is Forky (Tony Hale)-Bonnie’s
new darling self made Toy- who is guided by Woody in learning the value of
being a toy instead of trash. Woody reconnects with Bo who has been living a
ownerless life and the differences between the two seem irreconcilable with
Woody as the ever loyal toy. Woody must
come to terms with his own value as a toy and why some times it is
better to let go and start a new chapter in life.
Positives
The primary positive is the emotional resonant story. While
the elements of the story related to what it means to be a toy are not
necessarily groundbreaking they are necessary. This film is all about the pain
of separation and starting anew and this is why the character of Bo Peep is
crucial based on her own experiences as an ownerless toy. Woody seems ever more
loyal than ever to his new owner Bonnie , even when she discards him and even
when she creates a new toy called Forky. Despite this he has to come to terms
with his irrelevance or that it is time to find a new path. The loyalty displayed
by Woody however blinds him to the truth about his own situation: that he is unable
to let go and his loyalty can become a serious hindrance to others who don’t
share his passion. Bo Peep is such an important character and her disappearance
and then later reemergence in this film does serve to give the saga, as a whole, some real heft. It does make the
entire saga worth watching. There is established a real divide between those
toys who desire ownership or some sense of belonging to validate their
self-worth and those who wish to be ownerless. It is an important distinction
that has not been fully explored in the saga until now. Previously, we used to
see toys discarded with no idea of their final destination, or how they carried
on after, but now we do thanks to Bo Peep who is now world weary and more
cynical but not without longing.
The overall usual plot devices and supporting cast are
important to drive the story forward but does not necessarily take away from
the overall purpose of the film. There are some lovely shots in this film
particularly in amusement park setting. Those bright lights in a particular scene
convey a lot in terms of the abstraction and anonymity of particular characters
but this makes the pain of separation bearable and one of acceptance. It was
certainly a Spielbergian moment. It is also testament to the brilliance of the
animation in the film which is second to none in the Pixar roster.
Negatives
The only real negative with this film is that it can seem
like a retread of familiar themes throughout the series. The discussion
regarding the value of a toy to its owner is not entirely amazing and I thought
it would go in new directions particularly when considering the digital age and
the impact of smart phones, tablets etc. Instead it relies primarily on
familiar themes established since the first. While this is important for world
building one hopes that this is truly the end unless they embrace a new set of
characters apart from the usual suspects. Even the neophyte, Forky, is simply
meandering as he is instilled with certain toy ownership values. He only
provides and initial lift but then fades to the background. Everything is a bit
too familiar which is why the reintroduction of Bo Peep saved this film from
being mediocre. Without Bo Peep this would possibly be the worst film in the
saga but her presence elevates it. This goes to show the familiarity
surrounding the x-factor of Bo Peep as we arrive at the conclusion. Without Bo
Peep many would be questioning the sense of yet another Toy Story film. With Bo
Peep, loose strands can be wrapped up and the conclusion can be final.
Hopefully this is the end of the saga as we know it
especially after all the emotions on display. It was a fitting end but one can
see Pixar be tempted, because of box office success, to add yet another entry.
If they do I hope it is with a new generation of toys branched from the
original characters.
