Questionable Review: Toy Story 3

I know I said that my next blog post would be regarding trying new things, but first I believe it is imperative that we re-visit the familiar. Amazingly, it has been 15 years since the first Toy Story movie put Pixar on the map. I myself was just 7 years old at the time, and my younger brother hadn't even been born yet, and somehow after all these years, the franchise has managed to stay relevant and to shine in every aspect.

From story-telling to characterization to comedy to visual flair, Toy Story has and always will be Pixar's darling child. Now here in the year 2010, the final(?) chapter of the Toy Story has been released, and not only does it rocket passed all expectations, it will easily become a long-cherished movie for infinity and beyond.

SO WHAT'S THIS MOVIE ABOUT?

We pick up the plot of Toy Story 3 relatively chronologically from where Toy Story 2 left. A large chunk of time has passed, and with it have come many changes. Andy is 17 years old now and is headed off to college, and understandably his toys have been neglected for quite some time now with some even having been thrown away or sold off in yard sales. Those that remain are led by Woody and Buzz Lightyear who attempt to keep their fellow toys' spirits up, but when a mistake leads to a majority of them ending up on the curb with the garbage, they decide they are better off being donated to the local daycare center. Although Sunnyside Daycare seems like a paradise at first, it is soon becomes clear that it is more prison than retirement home. Now it's up to Woody and pals to attempt to get out of dodge and return to Andy, where their fate may be even more uncertain.

SO WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THIS MOVIE?

EVERYTHING.

SO WHAT SUCKS ABOUT THIS MOVIE?

It eventually ends. Despite your complete desire for it to continue, it will eventually end.

ANYTHING ELSE?

I cried during the closing scenes of this movie. I think that says enough about the level of sentimentality, nostalgia, and overall emotion that this movie brings to the table. If there is anything closer to a perfect film or a perfect conclusion to a series than what Toy Story 3 brings to the table, I would love to see it.

SO WHAT'S THE FINAL VERDICT?

Pixar are geniuses. How they somehow made a movie about toys feel like a gripping human drama is just all part of their film-making magic, and in my opinion, not only is Toy Story 3 arguably the best in the series, but it is in the top 5 of best Pixar movies ever. I usually use this space to qualify my verdict and say "If you like this or that, then you should probably go see this movie", but this film requires no qualification. If you are a HUMAN (maybe even if you aren't) you need to see Toy Story 3,