Scmaltz-tastic 3D adventure ride falls a little flat over the years

Rating: Null/10 (9 August 2011)

I just watched Toy Story for only the 3rd time since it was first in the theaters, and as much as I liked a lot of the movie, it fizzles out over time for me. It's a very cute movie, mainly for kids, but it has a few chuckles thrown in for adults. The human characters in the movie didn't seem very realistic; their happy-go-lucky, suburban lifestyle just made them very flat and barely likable, especially if you grew up in a family unable to afford multiple toys. The voice actors were delightful, and their moods were directed very well, even for the plastic Army-men who don't show much emotion. The "cannibal toys" were very imaginative and creepy, so they served their purpose well. I thought the idea of the claw machine that housed the little green aliens was cute, how "The Claw" was their Messiah of sorts. The coloring in the film was vivid and incorporated some awesome day-glow tones that I had forgotten about over time. The ultimate reason to watch the movie is to witness Pixar's astounding use of 3D imagery, especially when they incorporate real-life effects onto the screen (i.e. The magnifying lens over Woody's face).
There were some aspects of the film I didn't care for. The movie is only 77 minutes long without the prefaced, short 3D movie before it, making the story suffer and seem a little lacking. I found the music to be over-the-top schmaltzy and generic, but it is primarily for kids and the Disney crowd, so I guess it belongs here. Again, the character of Andy isn't very likable, other than the fact that he owns a lot of older toys that we made have seen commercials of as a kid. The story wasn't very mind-blowing, but from the vantage point of a toy on the run, it is imaginative enough. It's the typical Indiana Jones setting where the main characters always find a way to turn their two-steps forward into one-step back. The ending with the falling through the sunroof was very convenient and could've easily been the start of another obstacle they needed to face, for example.
In the end, I like the movie for its presentation, but as a film, I was not blown away with originality or anything by its story. The messages that it sends about jealousy, envy, depression, fear, and questions about one's worthiness to another are the primary focuses throughout the movie, but it ends up just being another nicely tied-up package in the end, which is Disney for you. 5 stars.