Toy Story 3
Release Date: 24 June
Length: 108 minutes
Rating: G (some scary scenes)
When the original Toy Story came out in 1995 I was entranced. It was my first experience of CGI animation, and I remember frequently leaning over to my sister and remarking, 'Wow, it just looks so real!' Best of all, unlike a lot of the dribble that exists to keep kids complacent, it actually had a funny, engaging and memorable storyline. Fifteen years later and Toy Story 3 delivers the same quality, except this time around there's also a feeling of bittersweet nostalgia.
In this latest installment, Andy is all grown up and ready to go to college. It's been years since his toys have been played with and they're weary of their position in life as he moves on. By a strange turn of events, the toys are mistakenly donated to the local childcare. While Woody might be the leader of the pack in Andy's room, Lotso (a cushy purple toy that resembles a Care Bear) is firmly in charge here, and after a smarmy real estate-esque pitch, the toys are thrilled at the prospect of being played with by children all day. Of course, Woody being Woody, insists on going back to Andy's house. Unfortunately, despite his commands, all the other toys are hostile to the idea and Woody ends up leaving on his own. However, after a chance encounter with a few ex-childcare toys, Woody discovers things are not all that they seem with Lotso and faces a new mission: save his friends from a life time of a tyrannical leader and abuse from hyperactive toddlers.
It's not hard to see how some elements of the film parallel with the sadistic kid from next door in the original, or Stinky Pete from Toy Story 2, but that doesn't make this one any less fun. The characters are still just like you remember, with Mr Potato Head's quick-witted quips, the three aliens being plain bizarre and Buzz's goofiness, and even though there is that nostalgic element that tugs at your childhood, the jokes are still fresh and the creativity of some sequences really do leave you wishing you didn't have to trade your imagination and the little child inside to make it in the big real world. This is a film that invites you to get caught up in the moment; to be completely engrossed within a world completely fictitious, dramatic and exaggerated and just for a little while, pretend it is all real. Although so many action blockbusters are flops for this very reason, it is all too easy to get swept away with the splendour and simple perfection of this crafty creation.
The only criticism would have to be that like with many 3D films, there doesn't seem to be any clear reason why it couldn't just be 2D anyway. Like my very astute housemate pointed out, they don't actually utilise the space to do anything particularly special. But that's a debate we can leave for another day. For now, it's time to snuggle up to our old favourite toy and remember just how adventurous they could make the confines of your bedroom seem.
Rosie Pham
