This franchise should, at least movie wise, end

Rating: 8/10 (24 June 2019)

It has been a while since I actually watched the previous 3 Toy Stories, however as with most audiences around the world I do remember finding enjoyment in each. The thought of this movie irked me at first since, in addition to the reputation Pixar has with its other sequels, 3 came with the perfect ending to the franchise's would-be trilogy. Pixar really had a lot riding on this, and...
As with any sequels, I would recommend engaging yourself with the prequels first in order to understand how Toy Story sets itself up as a series of movies (that includes the characters as well). For that reason, really the only big thing I want to say about the characters is that I like how the supposed antagonist is not necessarily a villain. The other new faces, like Ducky and Bunny, offer the expected comedy and heart of Toy Story; their writing enhances this. From the one-liners to the delightful action, the whole theater actually laughed out loud in some scenes. That said, I feel as though the story did sometimes feel cliché. In particular, the scene where Woody falls out with Bo Peep and his allies outside of Second Chance Antiques features the same structure as a lot of other types of these scenes, but isn't executed good enough to make it exceptional. I do have to give TS4 big points for its dénouement, which I find too delicate and powerful to spoil for you all. To round up a story that could have been crafted and showcased much worse for a sequel, we have Pixar's top-notch animation, rendering the effects and objects to the millimeters of detail. As much as the humans continue to have a Pixar feel to them, the toys and all the objects they interact with feel even more so like you could just reach out and grab them like real toys. Sure Coco was way more colorful, but that palette was more intended for that movie's world and wouldn't be necessary in a franchise known for relatively down-to-earth premises.
I have to admit I was disappointed by the lack of aliens, however that is a mere nitpick for a dam* fine addition to Pixar's lineup. As with the previous 3 Toy Stories, I can recommend this to even families who are not big on toys. Lovable and/or sympathetic characters will allure children, while adults can appreciate its solid humor and action. I personally would place it on par with 1, above 2, and below 3. Of course, this now means that any Toy Story 5 will have a lot more riding on it, and I dread to see a wonderful franchise possibly be sullied. For that reason, I feel that Toy Story should at this point not continue in movie form. Instead, more shorts like of Terror or That Time Forgot would continue its charm. Ignoring the future, this is still a movie that makes, at least me, proud to say I love Pixar.