Toy Story 4 Film Review - Can Woody Save The Spork In The Last Chance Saloon - Josh Cooley Directs Child's Play Terror With All The Fun Of The Fair, Badass Bo & Keanu Reeves H

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2019)

Watching the beginning of Toy Story 4 the animation was incredible, the opening scenes looked like a live action that would then merge into animation. Pixar were a revelation with their first Toy Story, and 24 years later with Toy Story 4 it's heartbreaking for Woody, voiced as usual by Tom Hanks, as he sees his girl Bo Beep given away by Andy's sister Molly. These are animated toys and yet director Josh Cooley gives them life, and we feel real empathy for them. For their sadness and then joy when Woody and the gang got a second chance with new owner Bonnie in Toy Story 3. But now Sheriff Woody is collecting tumbleweed in the cupboard. His badge is given to Sheriff Jessie, little girl Bonnie's law enforcer is female. And her doll Dolly is in charge of the toys, when it used to be Woody, who sadly now just watches what happens from the last chance saloon. Will he get another chance at happiness?
On Bonnie's orientation day at kindergarten the shy little girl is on her own at a table when the mean kid tips her pencil and pens into the trash. Yeah we know what would happen to him if our toys got hold of him. Remember Sid? But concerned Woody, even though he has been forgotten and left in the cupboard, went in her backpack to kindergarten to keep an eye on Bonnie, and jumps out to gather the arts and crafts from the trash. And Bonnie happily proceeds to craft herself a spork doll from a fork that was actually in the trash, and a pipe cleaner. (I had never heard of a spork before this film).
Bonnie just needed a friend. And when they come home and Woody introduces Forky, voiced by Tony Hale, as a new toy that Bonnie has made, well the toys are a little bemused. No more than Forky himself, who is hilariously determined always to be looking to jump into trash. That is his destiny as trash, to be used and then discarded.
But through the magic of childhood wishes, Pixar has brought this utensil to life, and he becomes Bonnie's new favourite 'toy'. So when Bonnie's parents take the family on a road trip, Woody takes it upon himself to save the spork. And it's a full time job. When Forky jumps out of the window of the moving RV, Woody jumps too. No toys are left behind has always been the motto. See you at the next RV stop he says in goodbye.
The humour is still there with a cracking script and this time the Child's Play terror is provided by a creepy baby doll with Goosebumps 2 - Haunted Halloween style ventriloquist dummy minders. They'll creep you out at any age.
Having persuaded Forky how important he is to Bonnie on their way back to the RV, Woody is attracted to a lamp similar to Bo's in an antique shop window. And he and Forky pop through the letterbox. Big mistake. The tinkling china Bo Peep voiced by Annie Potts, managed to escape from here with her kid sheep; Billy, Goat and Gruff. And now she's a badass lost toy in her bloomers at the travelling fun fair in town. But inside the shop the creepy vintage doll Gabby Gabby rules with her dummies. She has a defective voice box; voiced by Christina Hendricks, and never got to share tea with an owner. She just mimics the actions from her cabinet. Of course Woody has a working voice box....and Forky is the leverage.
New toys are introduced to the story including an Evel Knievel style stunt motorbike doll I remember from my childhood, voiced by the strangely wooden (plastic?) Keanu Reeves. His Canadian Duke Caboom toy was rejected on Christmas Day all that time ago, because he couldn't actually perform the stunts on his tv commercial. Having realised his limitations, he now lives in the store waiting for, but not expecting, a new owner.
And what of our Toy Story regulars in the RV? Tim Allen's Buzz Lightyear gets a starring role listening to his conscience, just like Woody, although Buzz is directed not by his inner voice, but by his voice commands. And when his voice sends him on mission to go find Woody, he meets two soft toys pinned to the same fairground stall wall he finds himself on. Voiced by Keegan-Michael Key as Ducky and Jordan Peele as Bunny, they will never be won by a child. And don't want Buzz getting the chance either as they've been up there the longest. The desire to have an owner is the overbearing need for a toy. But they are a scream with their ever increasing fantastic attempts to save Forky. And when Bonnie's toys club together for a sat nav return to all the fun of the fair, it feels like we're back in Andy's room all those years ago, with Hamm, Rex and Slinky on the gas.
It's a blast, and if this really is the Last Chance Saloon, then we're escaping to the open road with a high 5 from Keanu Reeves. (Stay for the credits).