There seems to be an unwritten rule in cinema that when a franchise releases two successful films, it has no choice but to make a third film. So, it wasn’t surprising when Pixar announced that it would release Toy Story 3.  Unfortunately, “three times a charm” does not always ring true in the movie industry.  Although there have been many successful third films, very few can be considered good on their own merit.  Therefore, Pixar would have to work hard to replicate the high quality of its first two Toy Story films in its third production.

In order for Toy Story 3 to be a success, Pixar has to overcome several challenges. First, it had to make a motion picture with fresh ideas that weren’t already featured in the first two films.  Second, the studio had to resist the temptation to produce a subpar film and rely on the Toy Story name to draw crowds.  Finally, Pixar’s last hurdle was it had to create a completely new story, which meant it couldn’t recycle material from the first two films. Other trilogies, such as Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, and Star Wars had the advantage of a story arc.  This allowed the story to be easily developed and divided nicely within a series of three films.  The Pixar crew, meanwhile, had to invent a new screenplay that presented a resolution unlike the outcomes used in the previous movies.  In addition, creative team had to maintain the themes and personality of the earlier films.  Fortunately, with a majority of the Toy Story cast and crew returning, the only question of this film was not would it be good but how it would compare with its earlier installments?

The story begins with Andy packing up to leave for college. The audience quickly learns that over the years his relationship with his toys has changed, and he has spent less and less time playing with them.  As a result, his toys are sadly feeling neglected.  Andy decides to bring Woody with him to college and puts the other toys in a garbage bag that he stuffs up in the attic.  Unfortunately, his bag of beloved toys is confused with another bag, and the toys end up in a bag labeled for donations.  Woody tries to save them, but his efforts fail, and he is thrown in the bag with them.  Thankfully, Andy’s toys find themselves donated to a daycare center, another chance to be loved by children.  They are warmly welcomed by the leader of the daycare center toys, a bear named Lotso, who smells like strawberries.  He gives them a tour of the center and orders Woody and his friends to set up shop in the Caterpillar Room.  Woody has his doubts about Lotso and attempts to escape.  Meanwhile, Buzz rallies his group of toys and gets them excited about the opportunity to be loved and played with by children again. Their joy quickly vanishes during their first encounter with the Caterpillar Room toddlers.  After being roughly thrown around and drooled and chewed on by these two-year-old monsters, Andy’s toys realized that they were placed in a horrible environment. During this horrific carnage, Buzz happens to notice quite a different scene in the Butterfly Room. Here, older children are kindly and lovingly playing with Lotso and his gang.  Convinced an error was made, Buzz meets with the bear and tells him that the Caterpillar Room tots are too young to understand how to play nicely with toys. Buzz argues that he and his friends should also be in the Butterfly Room with Lotso and his pals.  It is at this point that Buzz realizes Lotso’s evil rule over the daycare center.  Before he can act, Lotso unleashes his minions and they capture Buzz.

Meanwhile, Woody flees the center and is found by a sweet, young girl named Bonnie.  She is a very imaginative child and the way she happily plays with her toys is reminiscent of Andy.  Woody is quickly befriended by her toys, and they are astounded when they hear of his escape from Lotso’s daycare center. They reveal the horrible conditions of that place and emphasize how miraculous his getaway was.  Her toys share Lotso’s background story with Woody.  He learns that the stuffed bear was once loved by his owner but then left behind at a rest stop.  Poor Lotso eventually found his way back to his owner’s home but sadly discovered that another stuffed bear had taken his place.  Bonnie’s toys explain it was this betrayal that transformed the lovable, sweet-smelling bear into a bitter, vengeful despot.  Despite warnings from his new friends, Woody knows he must return to the center to rescue Andy’s toys.  When he arrives, he is devastated to see that his friends have been imprisoned and Buzz is standing guard.  Buzz Lightyear has been reprogrammed by Lotso’s henchmen and is now one of them.  It is up to Woody to save his faithful friends, but the only way out is very risky.  If his plan fails, it could prove fatal for all. 

Toy Story 3 is a surprisingly thought-provoking film that goes beyond the world created in the first two movies.  While the stakes are high in the previous films, they are raised to a whole other level in this third installment.  When the toys first arrive at the daycare center, they initially think they are in heaven and will forever be treated lovingly by children.  In reality, the Caterpillar Room children are destructive toddlers who almost tear them apart limb from limb.  Their realization that these youngsters play violently with toys is bad enough.  However, what’s more frightening is the possibility that they’re stuck here for all eternity.  In other words .. . . hell!  If Woody doesn’t rescue them, that’s their fate.  This sounds more like an episode of the Twilight Zone than a kid-friendly animated film.  

This is also a darker movie than the previous Pixar films.  There are many unsettling scenes in Toy Story 3, such as the loss of Mrs. Potato Head’s eye, Lotso’s tragic tale of his owner’s betrayal, and Buzz Lightyear basically being brainwashed when he is reprogrammed as an evil toy.  Woody, Buzz, and the gang had experienced challenges before, but none of them compare to the life or death scenarios they encounter in this film, specifically a disturbing scene of them facing possible death in the garbage compactor.  While Toy Story 3 still incorporates the usual Pixar charm and humor, it takes a more serious, adult-geared direction.  This was something I have mixed emotions about.  These darker elements are done very well and make the movie stand out on its own from the other Toy Story pictures.  However, I felt like the lighthearted and magical moments were overshadowed by the serious themes and made the film more of a drama than a comedy.  

The creators of Toy Story 3 do a wonderful job of introducing new characters, particularly its ensemble of villains.  The evil leader, Lotso, voiced perfectly by Ned Beatty, initially comes off as a laidback, southern gentleman.  Very welcoming and accommodating at first, he is later shown as a ruthless tyrant.  The movie includes a glimpse into Lotso’s past. HIs sympathetic backstory depicts the traumatic event that led to Lotso’s corruption and adds another layer of interest to his character  While it’s sad, we recognize how much of a threat he is to the other toys. He is overcome by his hate and will never give up his control of the center no matter the cost.  The Ken doll is another welcome addition to the cast of bad guys.  Michael Keaton was an inspired vocal choice, and he lends his underrated comedic touch to this character. The montage of Ken trying on a variety of clothes is a hilarious highlight in the film. Constantly torn between his attraction to Barbie and his loyalty to Lotso, he adds much needed comic relief.  

Indeed, all of these new elements in Toy Story 3 only work because of the solid foundation of performances, writing, and music retained from the previous films.  The Pixar staff, comprised of John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich, still kept the overall themes of loyalty, love, and friendship in Toy Story 3.  Woody and Buzz are just as lovable and endearing, and the adverse situations they face throughout the picture serve to tighten their already strong friendship. Randy Newman’s musical score perfectly blends the nostalgia of the series and incorporates some memorable new arrangements. The haunting musical score that carries the film’s climax is a prime example of Newman’s musical genius. Once again, Pixar’s brilliant animation  beautifully brings the Toy Story gang back to life on the sliver screen, and Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprise their roles as Woody and Buzz.  It’s this powerful combination of jaw-dropping animation and the vocal talent of these actors that plays a key role in making this a worthy addition to the Toy Story library.  

There are many enjoyable moments in Toy Story 3, but it’s the film’s final 30 minutes that make it achieve the high caliber level of Pixar’s other films. 

Toy Story 3 is a film that more than matches the great hype and high expectations that surrounded news of its theatrical release.  It has enough confidence in its story and characters to incorporate a screenplay that forces the characters to examine their biggest fears.  Even though I was uneasy with the darker mood of Toy Story 3, it managed to include plenty of fun and magical moments to offset this for me.  I still prefer the lighthearted nature of the first two films, but the third remains a highly entertaining movie.  

The Toy Story franchise is responsible for the global success of Pixar, so I can’t think of a more fitting way for the studio to finish the series.  Toy Story 3 offers a truly heartfelt conclusion to the greatest trilogy in cinema.  This tearjerker of an ending gently draws us in and allows us to tenderly bid farewell to these beloved characters for the last time.  

Or would it be the last?

Brian’s Rating 8/10

Read about Toy Story & Toy Story 2