TS4

Rating: 8/10 (2 December 2019)

A long time ago, an unknown entity pitched the idea of a 100% computer generated film and we were graced with the OG Toy Story and the birth of Pixar. Over 20 years later and Pixar has become synonymous with exceptional animated films, all thanks to the success of the original Toy Story. With 24 years to grow and develop, what have they managed to do?
Make the original look like utter garbage, for a start. Toy Story 4 is absolutely, undeniably gorgeous. In the opening scene alone they have managed to blow everything else away and they maintain that visual standard the whole way through. It once again proves that when it comes to animation beauty, Pixar is the bar.
There is no shortage of good to be said about how this movie looks, both on the big screen and now on home video. The toys and the humans are stunning. The weather and environments are incredible. It really feels like a spectacular achievement.
Beyond that, they've crafted a movie that checks a lot of boxes. Comedy, action, drama, heartwarming, romance and even, in a sense, horror are all present here and not just that, they're well represented.
It's not all positive though and as I watch this a second time I find myself noticing things I didn't before. While the overall story is strong and raises very fascinating existential questions for the toys, there are things that don't quite hold up. Woody is center stage, and that's fine, but Buzz isn't just pushed back, his character inexplicably reverts into a gullible and even stupid representation of himself that has seemingly forgotten everything he learned in the previous films. And if Buzz is regressed, Jesse is all but forgotten through the majority of this.
Speaking of the other films, I no longer understand the rules of this world. In all other instances, save one, when humans are around, the toys become inert. That's not the case here, they are actively moving around with large swaths of people around them and NO ONE notices them. They even manage to directly interact with things without people able to tell they're even there.
These are small things but I found them distracting as I watched it again and was less enveloped in how stunning it looks. As a result, my initial rating is dropping a little bit and while I originally thought this might be my new favorite in the series, it's now found itself dropping a spot or even two from that point.
In the end, I never wanted this movie. The third ended so beautifully that I just wanted them to leave the toys alone as a fond memory I could look back on rather than risk tarnishing them. But, even with the faults, Toy Story 4 is a wonderful and beautiful addition to a great series and it deserves to be seen. Kudos, Pixar.