Pixar ends a trilogy the right way

Rating: 10/10 (12 July 2010)

There seems to be a curse when it comes to the third film of a trilogy. It doesn't take long to realize that these tertiary films tend to be pretty crappy, just look at Alien 3, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Spider-Man 3, and Back to the Future Part III. The Toy Story franchise proved itself when it produced Toy Story 2, a sequel that was at least on par with its predecessor, but that alone does not a hit make, let's not forget that The Godfather Part II was followed by Part III. OK, enough teasing, Toy Story 3 is one of the best trilogy end caps of all time. The film is nearly perfect in every way and is the most enjoyable film of the summer, so far.
Ten years have passed when Toy Story 3 picks up (pretty close to the actual time between this film and Toy Story 2). Andy is now seventeen and heading off to college. Lying, untouched, in his toy box are Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, Slink, Rex, Hamm, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head and their children (three aliens from Pizza Planet). Our favorite toys have seen their friends go and now only look forward to being placed in the attic. After being forced to do something with his toys, Andy takes all but Woody and places them in a bag destined for the attic. After leaving the bag of toys, Andy's mom, always known for misunderstanding her son's intentions places the bag on the curb. Eventually the toys escape the bag and make for a donation box headed to Sunnyside Daycare. The toys must then decide if they want to return to Andy for a life of retirement or remain at Sunnyside and fulfill their purpose.
As far as family films go, no one can tell a story like Pixar. The company has produced 11 films now and all of them have been hits. Even Cars, without a doubt the weakest member of the pack, still managed to debut at number one. Since the creation of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2001, if Pixar has had a film in the running it has won all but two times, those two losses are for the films Cars and Monsters, Inc. Pixar produces animated greatness. Sure, I am fawning all over Pixar, but they so deserve it. Toy Story 3 just further proves that Pixar does not make a film unless they expect it to be great.
The animation is beautiful. The opening segment alone, a heavily detailed Wild West adventure that sees Andy's imagination brought to life. The film is able to combine the world of toys with that of the grand sweeping western. It is possible to forget that the landscapes are digitally created since they so fully capture the beauty of the desert rivaling the cinematography of The Searchers. Although the opening is slightly removed from the rest of the film, the animation never falters. The animators have obviously grown since the creation of Toy Story. In the first film, the human characters flirted with the "uncanny valley". I remember thinking that Molly specifically looked a bit creepy. Now all of the characters strike that comfortable balance of animation and real life. The easiest comparison is that of Toy Story's Molly and Toy Story 3's Bonnie. Bonnie is always cute and never gives you the eerie feeling that The Polar Express tends to elicit.
The story and writing is fantastic. The creators know how to strike the proper balance between adult and child humor. The femininity of Ken is a running joke that continues all the way through the ending credits and I personally never grew tired of it. Sure, the film is funny, but it wouldn't be a Pixar film if it didn't tug at your heartstrings. My mom may not have cried the way she did in the first ten minutes of Up but my sister had the pleasure of sitting next to a pregnant woman who bawled her eyes out during this film's last ten minutes. The film is able to work because it does not pander to the five-year-old in the audience. Toy Story 3 will bring smiles to both adults and children, and is an example of great film-making.
Toy Story 3 is damn close to perfect. The only thing that I can possibly say negatively about the film is the similarities between this film and Toy Story 2, in particular the villain. Lotso and Stinky Pete are characters that are extremely similar (it was very hard for me to keep a straight face while typing this sentence). They are both presented in the same manner, a seemingly nice and fatherly character that has a dark side that comes from a place of loss, and meet similar fates. The similarities may have been unintentional but they are there nonetheless. In no way does this comparison hurt the film or take away from the overall enjoyment, but it is there and it would be unfair of me not to point it out.
Pixar is unparalleled in its level of film-making and Toy Story 3 is another jewel in the company's crown. Toy Story 3's story is the perfect ending to the Toy Story franchise with writing that has not lost its spark. I have grown with the franchise, seeing Toy Story in theaters at the age of nine, and now Toy Story 3 at the age of 23 and the characters resonate with me just as much now as they did then. Despite some sneaking similarities to Toy Story 2, the film is able to work both on its own and as the third member of a trilogy. Toy Story 3 is not a great animated film, or a great child's film, it is simply a great film.