They are back to say a fitting farewell as Pixar play safe and emotional in equal measure.

Rating: 8/10 (13 September 2010)

As Andy prepares to go away to college, Woody, Buzz, and co, face an uncertain future. It seems that their options will be to either be thrown in the trash or stored away in the attic. When a mix up occurs, the toys find themselves at the Sunnyside Daycare Centre and think they have struck lucky after being welcomed by kindly Lotso Bear. However, as Woody frantically tries to convince the others that Andy has not deserted them, it comes to light that Sunnyside is far from the toy paradise they thought it was.
Already Toy Story 3 is breaking records left, right and centre. Boosted by a well earned reputation from the previous two film's in the series, and released in the now popular 3D format, Pixar's daddy was never going to struggle to get the punters into the cinema to see it. That fans have had to wait 11 years for this latest, and almost certainly the final, instalment, has also whetted the appetite considerably. Put simply, the film was guaranteed to rake in the cash before the ink was dry on the first critical reviews for it. The big question is if the Pixar team have managed to triumphantly close down this remarkable trilogy with a film to justify the record breaking.
The answer is yes, tho in truth it probably wasn't really in doubt. However, part 3 has endeared itself to most on account of the emotional pull of the story itself. There's certainly nothing new in the structure of the characters, the same themes exist; toys fret about being left, toys need rescuing, the same neuroses are again evident. Only this time its constructed around a prison-break plot; Toy Story does The Great Escape with a bit of Cool Hand Luke thrown in for good measure. Why Pixar gets away with the familiarity is due to the smooth introduction of new characters, and the afore mentioned emotional weight that pulls away at the old heart strings. The need to move on, retirement, acceptance and casting off ones bitterness are all given the "adult" touch as the "kiddie" friendly caper unfolds.
With that, part 3 is not as funny as what went before it. Yes it has its moments (Ken & Latino Buzz are high points), naturally, but they are never overtly hilarious moments. This is more about characters that we have grown up with, their humorous traits we already know about, its safe humour, Toy Story 3 is comfortable in more ways than one. But again Pixar get away with it (and we are happy to let them) because they have the balance right with the trilogy. Never too dark to alienate the youngsters (tho one sequence in the finale here brings mortality into question) and never too childish to send the adults to sleep, Pixar remain the governors of commercial family entertainment. The technical aspects remain first class, the animation is crisp and the action sequences continue to bounce off the screen. As for the 3D, this is not about flinging things at the audience, where the 3D works well for Toy Story 3 is that it lets the audience be on the same level as the toys. We are in their world, every nook and cranny enhanced, it's a fine world and one that further shows the genius at work by the Pixar mob.
Inducing tears of pleasure and sadness, Toy Story 3 is undoubtedly a lovely movie. The closure to one of the finest trilogies to have graced the screen. But its record breaking performances should not lend one to think that it's Pixar's masterpiece, because it's not even the masterpiece of its own trilogy. It is, however, one of the highlights of 2010 so far and sure to entertain for many years to come. 8/10