Toy Story 3

Can it be that 15 years have passed since the multidimensional adventures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, et al first delighted our senses in TOY STORY? I still fondly recall the first time I saw its trailer. I was astounded. The film did not disappoint. My love affair with Pixar would begin.

All these years later, Andy, once a little boy who delighted in the company of his beloved playthings, is now off to college. His mother isn't the only one weeping and concerned. Nor are certain audience members, but we'll get to that. Woody, Buzz, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and all those who survived the yard sales over the years foresee a dim future in a musty attic. Left alone until, maybe, if/when Andy has children of his own and hauls out these relics (yes, even at this point Buzz's once futuristic accoutrements seem quaint) to share. Or worse, toosed into a trash bag, landfill bound.

Andy eventually begins sorting, retrieving only Woody for his college box, the rest left for the attic. Through a series of misunderstandings, Buzz and co. end up on the curb, garbage truck visible in the distance. Woody again saves the day, but then all of them end up at an impossibly cheerful day care center, where they are greeted warmly by a strawberry scented pink bear named Lotsa and a scores of toys you may recognize from your own youth. All seems bright and promising: kids play with toys all day long! When they get older, a new batch of kids come. The toys will never again be neglected. Woody is the only one not sold on this supposed dream scenario, but then, he was the only one Andy selected, after all. The others are bitter and jaded, supremely disappointed, and all too happy to embrace this new phase. Woody remains devoted to Andy and escapes after a difficult parting with his comrades.

I'll stop here, and refuse to divulge any more of the plot. You'll expect there to be narrow scrapes, peril, cheeky gags, pop culture refs, hissable villany, assorted whimsy and warmth. It's all there, in spades. TOY STORY 3 is a grand old time at the cinema: great, great fun. I would've been satisfied even if those Pixar geniuses had coasted with this finale. They don't. Their creativity is beyond full bloom here, using their talents to evoke laughs and tears without ever seeming to pander. Nothing seems gimmicky or contrived. Even when vintage Fisher Price toys are integral to the story, or when that pull string, spinning animal sound ("the cow goes 'mooooo'") toy is ingeniously utlized as a poker table for some of the bad guys. It's quite amazing that a series that has so many real, name brand toys do not seem merely like 90 minute commercials. Each toy has a, dare I say, fleshed out personality. They are so realistic that once again, I will be unable to look at toys as dormant inaminate objects any longer. I'll keep catching a quick glance around the corner to see if they're talking.

We've met the leads before. Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Jessie (Joan Cusack), and others. All have distinctive traits and behaviors we've come to adore. Things are a bit more poignant this time out, as old friends like Etch-A-Sketch and Po Beep did not make this entry, their absence alluded to early on when the characters question their own futures. To say that this third movie is about pressing on would be quite obvious; it's a theme strongly proclaimed in Pixar's previous film, UP.

TOY STORY 3 exemplifies all the elements we usually see in children's stories: sticking together, never giving up hope, never leaving your comrade, remaining optimistic even in the most dire circumstances (check that harrowing scene at the landfill, with its hellish trash compactor and incinerator). Having these themes, exploring them, does not a good film make. You've doubtless seen many trite, insulting and gaggingly sweet movies that turn these qualities into pap. Never happens here, or in any Pixar, for that matter.

What also struck me this time was the somewhat sad story thread of how these toys with lives of their own will fall flaccid when humans are around. Completely subservient to the (not always gentle) hands of children (check the amusing sequence when our heroes spend their first day at the day care in the claws of energetic preschoolers). It isn't like the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes, where Hobbes comes to life when only his grade school buddy is around, suggesting not only that Hobbes' personality is a mere product of Calvin's active imagination, but also that adults are unable to see certain forms of magic. In the TOY STORY world, these objects' very purpose is to serve their children, to bring them love and joy. Think on that a bit.

The screenplay is knowing in many senses: knowing in pop culture in-joking (check the Barbie and Ken scenes, quite hilarious), knowing in how to stage a comedic ballet (when Mr. Potato Head becomes Mr. Tortilla Head, or when Buzz undergoes an, er, cultural switch, I was reminded of the clowns of silent films) but also knowing in the facts of life we all face in one form or another. So poignant it's hard not to get misty. Recall the brilliant life montage in UP as it touched on many of life's bitter (and not so bittersweet) inevitabilities. This film also forces us (and Woody and friends) to grow up and move on, to, if you will, deny self and serve others. Check the finale. I was speechless and a mess; good thing I was behind two sets of glasses.

P.S.-We saw a 3-D showing of this movie. It was unobtrusive and never flashy or in-your-face. Thus, whether you see the film in two dimensions or otherwise will likely not make a huge difference.