An absolutely brilliant entry proving this is the most brilliant animated series of all time

Rating: 9/10 (4 July 2010)

If there is any proof that sequels even third entries can be as brilliant as their originals...Toy Story proves it. Fifteen years later not only do they bring back the characters we know and love but make us love them even more and bring literally the best completion to a trilogy of all time...(Sorry Return of The King fans.) I love sequels personally even when they are bad but I think if they truly end the Toy Story series here they couldn't have done it more brilliantly. This is probably the best movie you'll see in 2010 so far and easily the best movie of the summer. Toy Story has absolutely everything that made the first film so amazing and best of all we see a young boy grow up like so many of us have since the original film and say goodbye to our friends...the toys. Despite a beautiful, moving, emotional, happy ending there is that feeling of sadness and reminiscing of days gone by. The fact that a 'cartoon' can bring all this out proves its brilliance but Toy Story 3, and the Toy Story series has never been a 'cartoon' but rather THEE animation epic that sets the bar for every other animated film in existence.
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return to their incredible iconic roles in the biggest of ways. Best of all Tim Allen gets some of the most solidly funny, roll in the aisles moments as Buzz is set back to his 'demo' mode and switched to Spanish speaking which will have everyone in tears laughing. Both men should get SOME sort of award for 15 years of two of the best characters in film history. Their chemistry is stepped up from the second film and the two buddies are back in full force. Joan Cusack (used sparingly and much less annoyingly as Toy Story 2) is great as Jessie, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, John Morris, Jodi Benson (hilarious!), and Laurie Metcalf all return to their roles and are as brilliant as ever. Imagine one of the best casts of all time coming back together after fifteen years and picking up where they left off. There is some real important newcomers to mention. First of all Slinky Dog takes a bit of a back seat role with the death of his voice Jim Varney and comedian Blake Clark takes over and does a solid job but somehow the character doesn't have the same feel to him. Michael Keaton is mind blowing as Ken (yes of Barbie and Ken.) He is absolutely hilarious and the character is just perfectly written and created. Teddy Newton voices the great character of the 'chatter telephone' (who didn't have one of these!!) Another amazing addition to the cast but without voice is 'Big Baby' who almost brought tears of sadness to my eyes when she/he gurgles 'Mama.' Finally...lets talk about the character that became one of my favorite characters of all time. Ned Beatty (best known to me as the bumbling sidekick of Lex Luthor in Superman films from the eighties) voices Lotso. A teddy Ruxpin like character who has become inherently evil after being abandoned by his owner. Lotso is absolutely villainous and Beatty is amazing behind the voice. He is the best villain of any cartoon I have ever seen and perhaps one of the best in film in general. If the hundred other reasons aren't enough to see this the character of Lotso makes this a must see.
I mentioned when reviewing the first film that the intensity of certain scenes make the film almost too much for really young kids and a terrific nail biter for everyone and Toy Story 3 takes that to a whole new level. These toys are cast aside and go from a Nursery school like concentration camp, to a garbage dump, to being seconds from being incinerated. Then you have the terrifying trio of Lotsa, and his bumbling buffoons Big Baby, and Ken who literally torture and lock up the toys. Regardless the message behind the film will likely leave most with their heart strings pulled. Toy Story 3 has the happiest and the saddest ending of any film out there. Obviously if you haven't seen the Toy Story series then don't see Toy Story 3 because although it would still be great, the film becomes truly brilliant when you already know and love these characters. Advertised largely in 3D (like every other movie it seems) but the 3D won't make or break this film. The movie stands clearly on its own merits as being absolutely amazing. 9.5/10