Toy Story 3

Released: 18th June 2010

Directed By: Lee Unkrich

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack

Certificate: U

Reviewed By: Luke Walkley

A month of massive release’s including Inception and the remakes of 80’s classics A-Team and Karate Kid, threatened to take some interest away from the third instalment of the Pixar classic. While Inception may likely be the best film you see this summer, even this year. It doesn’t mean it will be your favourite.

Toy Story 3 brings back the usual gang of Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Mr Potato Head and company, as they come to terms with not being played with anymore by their now 17 year old owner Andy. Accidentally donated to a day-care centre rather than put into storage in the attic, Woody must convince the other toys that they were not abandoned by their owner and must get

back to him before he leaves for college.  When setting out on their journey home, they are foiled by a Toy turned dictator Lotso and his henchman including a reset and confused, Buzz Lightyear.

Yes, the third is another ‘we have to get home’ plotline, but as in the previous two the plotline falls to by the wayside, The appeal of the film is its tremendously clever references to popular toys and humour that entices Children and Adults. As with Toy Story 2, a host of new characters are added, most notably Ken and Barbie, providing some of the best dialogue and comedy moments of the film, they are a fantastic addition and their popularity combined with their popularity when the first and second films were released means that the majority of viewers can relate to the hype surrounding them.

While the new characters aren’t in anyway a flaw in the film, their inclusion does cause a few off the main gang to be left in the background, Hamm, Slinky and Rex aren’t used as effectively as in previous films, while Mr & Mrs Potato head seem to enjoy more time in the spotlight, while Woody and Buzz don’t appear to have the same to-and-fro as usual.

This film also manages to evoke more emotion than either of the prior releases, a first for the series as a few tears may be shed, for fear of revealing too much I shall simply say for those of you who followed the whole series, tissues may be advised… However, it is the extraordinary ease with which Toy Story 3 is able to tickle your funny bone and then break your heart between scenes that gives a new dynamic not previously seen.

Toy Story 3 is a beautifully simple, yet breathtakingly clever piece of cinema. While the effects and technology hasn’t really changed since the original, the familiarity is warming and welcomes you straight back to the series.

If you thought you had grown up since the last film, Toy Story 3 will prove you’re never too old to let your inner child out.