The franchise keeps going strong even after all these years

Rating: 6/10 (12 September 2019)

Okay, here we have "Toy Story 4" and the title is somewhat self-explanatory almost as this is the fourth installment to the famous and super-successful animated film franchise and this one was released now in 2019, almost a quarter of a century later than it all started. And also almost a decade after the third Toy Story movie which many (inclusing myself) considered perfect closure really, but as always with almost every very commercially successful film series they keep coming up with new additions. Still, this is not meant as a negative criticism because if they turn out as nice as this one here, then there are no regrets from my side they made it. And honestly when can you ever not trust Pixar and Disney. Very rare. So now the director of these 100 minutes here is Josh Cooley a voice actor on Up and Oscar-nominated for his really witty and funny "Inside Out" screenplay and after some short film directorial efforts they leave the fate of the newest part of the franchise in his hands and they made no mistake doing so. As for the script, Cooley is also involved, but you also find the name of Pixar Legend John Lasseter and surprisingly also the one of Parks&Rec actress Rashida Jones who I really did not expect here, but it shows how much talent this series has to offer beyond Pratt and Poehler and also some of the others for sure. But back to Toy Story now. I thought it was a fun watch, even if I must say I am still a bit baffled how these toys manage to keep their very agile life in secret still and have done so for years, decades really because lets be honest here sometimes they can be pretty clumsy. Or lets take one specific example, namely when Jessie gives back the sheriff star early on to Woody. Now had Bonnie a better memory, then she would have been surprised what's going on, but this is not what small children remember I suppose. Okay, so much for the realism component. Lets not dissect the film from that perspective now, but at least take a look about all the many things gone right here.
The first and definitely among the most important aspects is that they got all the voice actors back from the older movies. This includes Hanks obviously, but also Tim Allen who was like the alpha male comedian/actor when it all started (look at his programs, or don't) just in case you wonder why he is doing Buzz Lightyear. But also many of the new characters they introduced like the Canadian stunt motobike rider (Reeves) or Ducky and Bunny (Key&Peele) are worth it and breathe new great life into this not dusty franchise at all. Often these kind of films stand and fall also with the antagonists and how memorable they are and in this department it is a success too as we have a little doll who wants a part of Woody, but it really isn't one Woody needs too much and it helps her in fulfilling (what she thinks is) her dream, so it is all good and she is not scary at all. On the contrary, they are helping her with her dream too in the end. And her aides are these seemingly robot-like gentlemen who are honestly slightly scary also with their faces, but not in a really bad way honestly like they are really just following orders. Still, there are these moments when they are turning their heads and one occasion even 180° around, which reminded me a bit of The Exorcist, even if I had no idea if it was meant this way, but it is one of the things that grown-ups will recognize and kids probably won't. Now if grown-ups even watch this film. In my showing I was the only one in the audience altogether, which was nice, but definitely not what the film deserves. Still it's been in theaters for a while already at this point, so I guess early on more people watched it and it was a commercial success again too.
Another character who deserves a mention is Forky (Tony Hale, Veep), who was among the best and funniest things of the entire film when he was introduced with his constant attempts to make it to the bin, a real case of lost identity and he has to come to terms first of all with being an actual toy and not garbage, even if it is never really too much on a more serious note about that. The comedy completely prevails with this little fella and how long they really kept his story line going even at the center of the film showed how classy the script is. Luckily for him, at the end, he even finds a partner, which will make things easier for him. So yes as good as the film was in terms of drama and emotion as always with Pixar and Disney really, comedy is mostly key here. I really adored the "has a child" running gag used on several occasions and it really doesn't get old. And there are many other funny moments. You will recognize them when you see them. The old and new characters who all have a lot of attention to detail make them work without a doubt and will have you in stitches at times. Just one more example when Buzz finds out about his inner voice and how he reacts to it was really great. Now I like Woody and cowboy( toy)s are cool, but by now he feels more like a vehicle to boost all the other more special characters around him, even if at the very center of it all he is still in the middle of the plot too also when it comes to making crucial life decisions. Maybe this did not do too much for me because I have never been a really big Bo Peep fan, so it is at least partially subjective, but makes kinda sense that the sheepkeeper ends up with the cowboy. I'm just more of a Jessie fan, I can't deny it. But still the more serious stuff does not come short either. Like when Woody says bye to all his friends at the end (now that will be a challenge to reunite them for a fifth film, which will certainly come), it is pretty touching no denying. And what else touched me was Gabby Gabby's fate because you could really see how the girl she wanted to be her child would not love her as much as she wanted it to happen, but when she finds somebody else who was as lost as herself, it is just the sweetest moment ever. You can also make real life parallels about love and attraction here. Still very subjective, you will maybe be moved by other moments more. But you will be no matter by what. Okay finally a few words on some of the audio. Randy Newman is back with his easily identifiable voice to provide some new songs, but we also hear some of his old works. And I watched the German dub, so I cannot say anything about the English-language actors this time, but the dub was fine, even if Bully Herbig was the only truly known name. or maybe because of that because all the supporting characters were voiced by experienced voice actors and not big name German actors. The only other one I knew was Kavanian, not a surprise he is in here next to Herbig with their common past. So this was a really good film, three stars out of five and if I gave half stars maybe 3.5 even because at its peak it is certainly 4 out of 5. Again a definite contender for Best Animated Feature Film at the Oscars with inclusions maybe for screenplay or song too. We will see if Frozen 2 can be a worthy contender in the key category. But it doesn't matter anyway, even if I am glad they are pushing each other to new heights. No losers in/for this movie except those grown-ups who still refuse seeing the newest so so good animated movies. Their loss. A definite thumbs-up for Toy Story 4!