In a Nutshell: "Toy Story 3" (8/10)

Rating: 8/10 (8 December 2010)

Toy Story 3...Lovable "To infinity and beyond!"
It is usually a tough task to get satisfied when you walk into a movie after your expectations have been shot to the extremes. With Toy Story 3, the story is different. You may have seen 1 & 2 and in case you haven't, they tell a story of a bunch of toys belonging to a kid named Andy. These toys go through various adventures trying to spend most of their time with their owner and not get away from him for any reason. In the 3rd part, Andy is off to college and no longer in need for his toys, but through a classic mix up, the toys get delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic, and there begins a new adventure.
Animated features, especially Pixar's, have always been presented in the form of a funny, well entertaining story with a deep moral lesson behind. However, a turning point to the history of Pixar and the whole animation industry was "Up", which won 2 Oscars and was nominated for 3 more. Some of the reasons to that success were adding a few more dramatic elements to the plot, surrounding the movie with high class music and making the story constantly eye catching. In Toy Story 3, Pixar looks back at "Up" and builds upon on its success using almost every aspect involved. You get the music, the laughs, the drama, and the cliché moments and end it all with a perfect resolution.
The similarities with "Up" go even deeper with the significant character resemblance between the villains in both movies. Both Christopher Muntz, the explorer from "Up" and Lotso the notorious teddy bear of "Toy Story 3" appear to have been good hearted at the earlier stages of their lives, which are presented in flashback forms in both films. Pain and grief ignite hatred and corruption in their personalities and turn them to who they are now.
Like "Up", "Toy Story 3" is full of well crafted dramatic moments and overwhelmingly funny ones as well. It's a pretty satisfactory journey from beginning to end for the viewers regardless of their expectations. As the story builds up, it turns so realistic; not until Buzz starts speaking Spanish that it hits you that you're watching an animated movie not a real one.
In a nutshell, Toy Story 3 has something definitely special and different to present to the series fans. It will leave you knowing for sure that it's the best of the trilogy. It has a unique plot, a beautiful score and a hilarious bunch; we've learned to laugh with long time ago. I guess the Pixar lot are expecting to add another Academy Award to the collection in 2011. Watch it in 3D!