Toy Story 4: They’ve still got a friend in me.
Well, they’ve done it again. Against all the odds I walked out of that cinema pretty contend. Although ... straight off the bat I would have preferred if they ended it with the last one, it’s a better ending, and we’re been told Toy Story 4 is definitely the last one (we’ve been stung before) but I didn’t begrudge Disney making this movie as much as I thought I would.
The story progresses on from the last film with Woody and the gang ingratiating themselves with their new kid, sweet little Bonnie, who is adorable in this film.
In order for Bonnie to feel more comforted at her first day in kindergarten Tom Hanks stowaways in her rucksack and plays her guardian angel, protecting her, and helping her with an art project. Bonnie makes herself a little toy made from a spork, pipe cleaners, and goggly eyes. This character is then brought to life in the same way the other toys are when not being observed by humans. The new toy “Forky”, voiced by the brilliant Tony Hale, has an existential crisis in realising his own existence and makes a bid for the trash as that’s where he believes he belongs. Queue fun montage of Forky making various bids for freedom whilst the family go on a road trip, until finally he escapes Woody’s clutches who’s made it his new mission to make Bonnie happy. This stems from Woody’s need to replace the empty hole he has in his life when Andy left for college. He tries to convince Forky to stay to keep Bonnie happy who is besotted with Forky. Woody goes after him alone which sets up the rest of the movie.
From then on there’s a lot of adventure, suspense, much humour and some mild horror with some very creepy dummies.
There are also some wonderful cameo voices which include, Keanu Reeves as a daredevil Canadian Evil Knievil type Toy, Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael Key who play a funny double act cuddly toy due that made me laugh out loud a fair few times. We are also, SPOILERS, reunited with Bo Peep who plays a female empowered super hero role and we see Woody wrestle with his affection for Bo Peep and his loyalty to “his Kid” Bonnie.
There’s a large over tone of ownership and belonging within this
film and a message of accepting who you are but also braving new worlds and new paths that can lead you to better things. Also accepting the inevitable end of chapters in your life and moving forwards. All of this being wildly ironic for Disney who could have left the franchise in the perfect, and in my opinion more heartfelt and emotional, end with Toy Story 3.
However I did really enjoy this film and overall I would give this film A RATING OF 8.1/10 as a firm recommendation to everybody, old and young, families and friends, and even if you’re a saddo like me and just want to see it on your own.
I’ve been Christopher Whitmore, thanks for reading.
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