An enjoyable but gratuitous epilogue to the superior 'Toy Story 3'

Rating: 7/10 (25 July 2019)

'Toy Story 4' feels like another tap into a drying well. That isn't to say it is bad. I liked it but I'm sorry I do not agree with those who say it is on par with the original three. As a piece that advances the story and characters 'Toy Story 4' really feels like a needless epilogue at best. It's just a movie that is in the shadow of a far superior preceding entry.
It isn't a bad film by any stretch as there is certainly a lot to like here. But it's heights do not come from Pixar's story telling strengths. The highlight here is the humor. The movie has some very funny moments( from Ducky and Bunny especially). The movie really goes for the jokes but the emotional moments don't really land. problems really has to do with the script. I think the existential crisis that Woody goes through isn't really earned and it just doesn't feel organic to his character development through the original films. 'Toy Story 4' also poses a lot of questions about a mythology that seemed pretty established by this point. It never really was explained how toys came to have lives of their own and so it was kind of interesting to see Forky's origins. I guess I just thought that what gives the toys their life and soul was their kids. It's kind of odd just to have the toys venture out on their own.
The good news is that the animation from Pixar keeps improving with each picture they make. 'Toy Story 4' is an astounding visual achievement. The color palette is breathtaking and the characters are more emotive than ever. This series is a perfect study in looking at how animation evolves.
I liked 'Toy Story 4', it's a sweet funny film that children will enjoy. It just didn't convince me of it's necessity to exist.