{"id":1159,"date":"2019-06-19T01:24:07","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T08:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/kksm\/?p=1159"},"modified":"2019-06-24T01:25:48","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T08:25:48","slug":"movie-review-toy-story-4-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.palomar.edu\/kksm\/movie-review-toy-story-4-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review: Toy Story 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MV5BMTYzMDM4NzkxOV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNzM1Mzg2NzM@._V1_\"As summer starts to kick into full gear, this year\u2019s lineup of blockbuster has already put up several heavy hitters. In a long running slate of sequels and reboots of fan favorites landing all over the map in terms of positive\/negative reception, it is both surprising and inevitable that one of the year\u2019s most anticipated additions to one of several franchises that we know and love is Disney and Pixar\u2019s release of\u00a0Toy Story 4<\/i>.<\/p>\n

This is a project that had been in development for several years, and had made its rounds in the rumor mill for even longer. While there was always support from many of the fans to continue the series, wider audiences were skeptical of the need for a fourth installment in what was considered an already perfect trilogy, with 2010\u2019s release of\u00a0Toy Story 3<\/i>, especially as the newest release drew nearer. However, after tonight\u2019s last of several early screenings of the new\u00a0Toy Story, I think I join critics everywhere in saying that this movie absolutely makes its case.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019ve always thought of the\u00a0Toy Story\u00a0movies as especially weird compared to other Pixar films. Sure, the actual concept of toys with emotions isn\u2019t quite as far reaching as say, cars with emotions, or\u2026emotions with emotions. However, because the world of characters who sit on shelves and get stuck behind dresser drawers seems like such a small one, the story demands compensation. As we\u2019ve seen, this has involved high stakes scenarios of vicious jealousy, pure evil, and even the realization of mortality while being stuck in a garbage incinerator with no hope of escape (these movies are great for kids). Rest assured,\u00a0Toy Story 4<\/i>\u00a0stays true to this reputation.<\/p>\n

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One of the most disappointing things about this movie was the sidelining of the original cast members. Of course, we do have 3 other movies to enjoy Jesse, Rex, Hamm, Slinky Dog, and the Potato Heads, and they are in this movie, but no more than they need to be. Furthermore, the new characters are an absolute delight. Christina Hedricks\u2019s Gabby Gabby makes for a well-realized villain and Keanu Reeves\u2019s Duke Caboom is non-stop fun. Ducky and Bunny, portrayed by Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele, respectively, should also not go without noting. But the movie stays true to its weird roots by introducing Tony Hale\u2019s Forky, a character made by the gang\u2019s new kid, Bonnie, from bits and pieces found in the trash. The plot seemingly focuses on this character\u2019s existential crisis, a traumatizing conflict of whether it really wants to be a toy, when it would probably rather just be a piece of trash (seriously, your children are definitely not retaining anything destructive from these movies). However much of this is actually a veil for a story that focuses on Woody, and his realization of his true purpose.<\/p>\n

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Without giving away too much more about the story, there are several other outstanding aspects of this film to look forward to. For one thing, the animation has improved so exponentially since the original 1996 film, that it is almost jarring. The surfaces and textures are almost too realistic, including brick walls, porcelain, rain, cobwebs and much more. Another notable aspect is the spectacular soundtrack and score, both of which a product of the legendary Randy Newman. As you hear \u201cYou\u2019ve Got a Friend in Me<\/em>\u201d opening the first act against an oily cloud painting, you\u2019ll find yourself thinking, \u201cShould I be sick of this?\u201d And somehow you won\u2019t be.<\/p>\n

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Lastly, and this is something that came as somewhat of a surprise; the film was outrageously funny. That\u2019s not to say that the previous films weren\u2019t funny, but\u00a04<\/i>\u00a0takes it to a whole new level, achieving a constant and seamless blend of visual and situational humor.<\/p>\n

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While there is a lot of precedent for the follow up to famous trilogies in film to be in bad taste,\u00a0Toy Story 4<\/i>\u00a0is a veritable exception to the rule. It earns with the story every bit of what it asks for from the audience, and will be remembered as a consistent extension of an iconic series.<\/p>\n

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Release Date:<\/strong>\u00a0June 21, 2019<\/p>\n

Cast:\u00a0<\/strong>Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Ally Maki<\/p>\n

Studios:\u00a0<\/strong>Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures<\/p>\n

Director:\u00a0<\/strong>Josh Cooley<\/p>\n

Director:\u00a0<\/strong>Jonas Rivera, Mark Nielsen<\/p>\n

Run Time:<\/strong>\u00a0100 minutes<\/p>\n

Official Social Media Pages:<\/strong><\/p>\n