Great Movie - But a Little Dark

Rating: 7/10 (29 July 2010)

If there are parent reading this that want to take their very young ones to see Toy Story 3 , then I feel obliged to warn you that this movie may not be suitable for children four years of age and younger. Why? Because there are a couple of characters in this movie that are cutesy at times, but frighteningly creepy at other times. If you choose to take your small ones to see the film anyways, just be wary when Lotso and Big Baby are on the screen. Be especially wary of Big Baby. The way Disney uses that character can give nightmares for years.
I saw the first Toy Story movie and enjoyed it. I have not yet seen the second one. I do remember the first one missing that Disney darkness that all Disney productions seem to have. In most Disney movies you are left emotionally drained from the very high ups you are exposed to that lead to the very low downs. Characters die, people cry and the movie can be quite depressing.
But the first Toy Story movie lacked that darkness, and that may be why I was able to enjoy that movie. In Toy Story 3 the darkness is back, and this is one wild roller coaster ride of emotions. The overall theme of the movie is depressing, the action makes you feel helpless and the ending is less than satisfying. I will say that Tom Hanks is a great actor even when you cannot see him acting. The combination of Hanks and Tim Allen still has that magic and that helps bring the movie back around at the end. The problem is the two characters spend most of the movie apart, and the story misses out on that interaction.
I wish I could tell you that Toy Story 3 is a fun movie to just let the kids watch, but that isn't even true. The bad guys are creepy evil, and the sad scenes are drawn out to the point of making anyone depressed. Lighting is used to perfection here, but all it really does is cause a chill to go up your spine.
As an adult I enjoyed this movie. I can handle the emotional roller coaster it puts you on, and the nightmares went away for me within a day or two of seeing the movie. I worry about the kids that will flock to this movie and how long it will take them to recover. It is pretty obvious that Disney is using 3D to try and make the movie interesting rather that relying on the story itself. I don't see movies in 3D because I don't want to get sucked in by the novelty. In the case of this production, I am glad I missed out on the creepy 3D effects.