Yes they Canada!

Rating: 10/10 (22 July 2019)

I was certain in my believe that TS4 would be a horrible misstep, following the beloved original trilogy! (And to be honest I wasn't really as mad-keen on TS3 either!) As such, I really wasn't fussed that due to holidays and work trips it's been out a month before I've seen it. But how wrong I was! Pixar have really done it again and pulled a gem out of the bag.
There is more emotional heft in the pre-titles sequence of this film that in many so-called dramas I have seen this year. It's extraordinary how nuanced the animation has become.
I guess it should come has no surprise, that the animation quality has improved: the original Toy Story came out nearly 25 years ago! The pre-title sequence, and the opening titles (flashing back to the glory days of playtime with Andy), allow you to compare and contrast the then and now animation quality. I remember being completely wowed by the photo-realism of the people in the Pixar original. But now that looks like Etch-a-Sketch compared to the quality of the latest installment.
Furthermore the camera can zoom and soar around the scenes at will, illustrating that Moore's Law for computing power pretty much holds true!
The Plot: Buzz and Woody's new owner, Bonnie, is starting kindergarten and in so doing she brings a new toy - Forky, the spork - into existance. Forky is suicidal in not yet understanding his place in the 'circle of life'. When the family go off in their RV ("Damned Renault!!" - yes, I had a few of them!) Woody has his work cut out in keeping Forky out of the recycling!
They stop over in a small town, where the roving funfair has also stopped. During the visit, Woody gets reintroduced to an old romantic acquaintance - Bo Peep. However, he also has to confront a smiling face of deceit. No, this time not Lotso Huggin Bear, but instead the talking doll Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks), who is supported by her scary looking henchmen.
Most of the old crew are along for the ride. (The late Don Rickles part as Mr Potato Head had to come from archive audio clips). This time though the film seems to revolve around a pretty small subset of the toys. The likes of Slinky, Hamm, Rex and the Potato Heads get relatively little screen-time.
However, what we do get is the introduction of some wonderful new characters. This includes diminutive cop Giggle McDimples (voiced by Lori Alan); the hilarious Bunny and Ducky (voiced respectively by Jordan Peele - yes! Jordan Peele! - and Keegan-Michael Key); Combat Carl(s) (voiced by Carl - "Apollo Creed" - Weathers); and foremost of all Duke Kaboom! Duke, a self-doubting Canadian Evel Knievel-style stunt-rider action figure, is voiced in enthusiastic style by Keanu Reeves.
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen again are the film's heart and soul. Buzz has a somewhat lesser role to play this time, but Hanks is as great as he's ever been voicing Woody.
And it shows how loved this film series is. Talent just queues up to say just a single line! Well, how can you say no to being part of film history? Aside from those mentioned above, the film boasts lines from Timothy Dalton; John Ratzenberger; Annie Potts; Jay Hernandez; Joan Cusack; Wallace Shawn; Laurie Metcalf; Carol Burnett; Carl Reiner; Bill Hader; Patricia Arquette; and even the great Mel Brooks.
Pixar has to work for young kids and it does. I took my four year old grandson to see it and he enjoyed it. (More importantly, he sat through the lot without a wee!). There are a few mildly scary bits for very young children. My Frankie took it all in his stride. After being suitably spooked by Anthony Hopkins in "Magic" in 1978, Gabby Gabby's "heavies" were far more concerning to me in any case!
But there is much for adults to love as well. In terms of comedy there are many laugh-out-loud moments: a Combat Carl left repeatedly 'hanging'; Buzz's "inner voice"; Bunny and Ducky's imagined plans; and all of Duke Kaboom's scenes. And as with previous films, there are moment where the script plumbs new depths of emotion. These are friendships between bits of plastic, but they are friendships that have been lived through our childrens' lives. As such, emotions run deep at the end of the film and I defy anyone not to be fighting back tears at the closing scene.
As always, there are Pixar Easter Eggs to be found in the film, In this case, a HUGE number, especially within the Antique Shop scenes. Items are there from every Pixar film, including from the Pixar shorts (Tinny from "Tin Toy"'s there, for example). (There's some pointers for more to spot from the article here, but I'm sure that is just the tip of the iceberg.)
Directed by Josh Cooley (as his first feature!), it's a masterpiece, and cements itself firmly in my films of the year list.
(For the full graphical review, please check out One Mann's Movies on the web or Facebook. Thanks).