Like a Designer Mess

Rating: 7/10 (23 June 2019)

Given its 2019 release date, this movie was uncharacteristically wholesome compared to the other popular media at the moment, which is no doubt the reason behind its wild success. Woody, unaccustomed to not being a favorite toy, gives himself purpose by babysitting the toy his new kid (Bonnie) made from art supplies. Woody and "Forky" attempt to reconcile their new place in life, while navigating the pitfalls of reunited long lost love, predatory dolls, and unclear motivation. This movie was utterly enjoyable, make no mistake. But my experience was like admiring a fantastic antique picture frame. The outline and all the key ends of the film were glorious, visually stunning, and well structured. Just like the picture frame, however, the middle was absolutely empty. The middle was too long, reiterated the same point many times to the point of sullying the emotional impact, and seemed to be an excuse to show off the gorgeous animation. The key events hit home, the emotional and life messages were well articulated and did translate across the generations, and the animation blew my mind. In summation: worth the $15 I spent, but not a penny more.