TOY STORY 4
US, 2019, 100 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan- Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Madalyn Mc Graw, Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Jay Hernandez, Joan Cusack, Bonnie Hunt, Kristin Schaal, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenburger, June Squibb, Carl Weathers, nonrecourse, Jeffrey Garlin, Timothy Dalton, Laurie Metcalf, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Betty White, Carl Reiner, Patricia Arquette, Bill Hader, Flea.
Directed by Josh Cooley.
To infinity – and beyond! And, of course, “you’ve got a friend in me�. Part of our consciousness, part of our positive attitude towards life!
And, since 1995 with the first Toy Story. Pixar animation made a great impact and began a series of highly successful entertainments, Oscar winners, and further Toy Story adventures. Now, after almost a quarter of a century, here is Toy Story 4. And, all our toy friends are back, led by Woody and Buzz. And, for our delight, there are some new characters including For key, a twisted but genial fork, and, a variation on a Ken-doll, a stunt motorbike rider, dashing but a bit slow on the uptake (and voiced with a touch of parody by Keanu Reeves.)
The story takes us back nine years when Andy was passing on his toys to his younger sister. Some of the toys were going to other owners, especially Bow Peep and her sheep. While this is sad, she has a philosophy of toynness that toys must move on to new and loving owners. On the question is, should Woody go with her. One of the messages of the film is that the whole reason for being a toy is to be the object of love from the child owner. Later, the film will become rather misty eyed for the audience as Woody has to go through this whole process for himself.
The plot complications this time include the youngest child, Bonnie, going to school, Woody hiding in her schoolbag, and her being bullied by some of the children. Then, she goes on a road trip with her parents, the toys going along as well.
There are various adventures, with four key getting lost and being taken by a problem-doll, Gabby Gaby, who feels unloved and unwanted and would like to have Woody’s voicebox to attract a child. She holds onto four key and, Woody, ever compassionate, is willing to give his voicebox to save Porky. There is a visit to an antique shop as well is the discovery of Beau Peep. Then various complications with toys getting lost, the family driving home, Woody and the plan for rescues, with bows helping out (listening to his “inner voice� by pressing buttons on his chest), Gabby Gaby finding a lost little girl and Woody organising for the little girl to find Gabby Gaby.
Not quite yet happy ending, while all the toys finally land up together after various separations, the question arises again about Woody going on to find other owners who will love and appreciate him. The last words of the film itself, Woody starting and Buzz finishing, “to infinity – and beyond�.
The invitation is to stay for the early parts of the credits because, in fact, there are a lot more words, comics situations as the toys go to the local fair and help the children to win all the prizes at the shooting gallery.
As always, there are a lot of style voices which enhance the comedy and the entertainment value. Couple of more years, we suppose, before Toy Story 5.
1. The popularity of the series? The 25 years? The characters and situations?
2. The popularity of the plot, toys alive, loyalty to the children? The toys reason for being – for the children?
3. The animation style, familiar, humorous?
4. The range of voices, the familiar voices, the new? The jaunty score and the songs?
5. The situation, Andy and his being finished with toys, passed on to Molly, being passed on to Bonnie?
6. The initial rescue sequence, RC? Woody and his heroism? Bo Peep and her leaving? Life to go on in the family? The role of toys to move on to other owners? Woody and the temptation to go with her?
7. Bonnie going to school, the bullies and the arts and crafts and her loss? Woody in her bag?
8. The character of the Sporky, Forky? Origins, seeing himself as a tool, downplaying himself? Discussions with Woody? His becoming Bonnie’s favourite?
9. The road trip, Forky going out the window?
10. Bo Peep, her reappearing, in the search? The encounter with Gabby Gabby? Her goal, to have a child owner, her loss of voice, her attacking Woody, Gabby Gabby and Forky?
11. Bo Peep, with Gabby, seeing the little lost girl, going to her help, her delight in having the doll? Reunited with her parents?
12. Buzz Lightyear always popular, his involvement in the search, listening to his “inner voice� and pressing the buttons?
13. The carnival, Buzz becoming a prize, escaping? The encounter with the new toys? The cop, Duke Kaboom and his exploits? The Ken-doll kind of character (and the touch of satire with Keanu Reeves’ voice and tone?
14. Woody, willing to give his box voicebox to Gabby, in exchange for Forky?
15. The hiding the backpack, in the antique shop, the owner of the shop and her help? The other toys going back to the family?
16. The comedy with the car and its controls, the malfunctions? Finding the bag in the shop?
17. Everything restored, the farewell, Woody torn as to whether to go or not, the decision to go, with Bo Peep? The last words of the story with Buzz and Woody complementing each other with “to eternity… And beyond�?
18. And the added comedy of the fair and the prizes during the credits?
