Big Screen Peter: Toy Story 3

Editor’s note: Peter Lewis has agreed to use whatever it is you call his writing style to provide some measure of analysis to those folks who still go to a theater to see a movie. Enjoy.

review by Peter Lewis

The track record for sequels is not very good.

There are notable exceptions like “Godfather II” or even the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. On a whole, however, recapturing the magical allure of an original motion picture and translating it into a compelling continuation of the original is a tough act to pull off.  The path to sequel success is littered with the rotting carcasses of films as diverse as “Matrix Revolutions” or “Caddyshack 2.”

In the face of staggering odds, “Toy Story 2” was a relevant and deeply entertaining sequel. The evidence of which plays out in its consistently high ratings on sites like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB.

However, the release of “Toy Story 2” was over a decade ago.  And if the recent revamping of the Indiana Jones franchise is any indicator, maintaining relevancy after such a long break is often a difficult task. To put it bluntly, every success raises the bar and to reenter the ring after such a long break is to risk the possibility of sullying an otherwise stellar reputation.

Despite these long odds, Toy Story 3 is a winner. The creative folks behind the franchise have once again given audiences a compelling story with stunning visuals. It is a certainly crowd pleasing piece of cinema.

“Toy Story 3” is a deeply emotional film, touching on themes of community, loyalty, and the loss of innocence. The action once again centers on Woody (Tom Hanks), the prototypical hero and his gaggle of fellow toys. As is the case with the previous films, the action centers around a journey. Andy, their now teenage owner, is heading off to college in just a few days and the toys are worried about what this means for them. Through a series of mishaps, the toys end up at a seemingly edenic daycare. Trapped and needing to escape, the toys illustrate unparalleled teamwork to achieve their goals. All without drawing the notice of the otherwise ignorant human population, of course. This leads not only to difficulties, but whimsical situations.

First and foremost, the film is intended for children. So, the fact that good prevails should be obvious. While this foreknowledge can often negatively affect one’s experience, this installation of Toy Story sails on unaffected. This is unquestionably a testament to the screenwriters. They created a script that was perfectly balanced, maintaining a compelling narrative while also tip-toeing the tightrope between child and adult. The end result is a nearly perfect creation that can be enjoyed by viewers of any age.

After watching “Toy Story 3,” however, one has to wonder at the disparity between this gem and the drivel that populates the screens at the majority of cinemas. How is it possible that animated films can create a well-crafted script with fully rounded characters, but live action films continue to shove ill-conceived scripts with unformed caricatures down our throats?

As frustrating as these thoughts are for cinephiles, to paraphrase The Band: “take what you can get and leave the rest.” So, be thankful “Toy Story 3” is very much worth the price of admission. Forget the sitter and bring the kids with you, everyone will leave happy.

• Toy Story 3 is playing at the Carmike 14 and the Malco Cinema 12 in Fort Smith, the Malco Van Buren Cinema, and the Poteau Theatre. Link here for time and ticket info.

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