Toy Story #3

When Toy Story first came out, it was the beginning of a new era of digitalized cinema. It was innovative and exciting. And it was fun. So much fun that there was no surprise that a sequel was in order. As almost all sequels go, Toy Story 2 was not as good as the first, but it was still nice to see our old friends again.

This go round our old friends have not aged much, but their beloved owner Andy sure has. Now 18 and off to college, the toys from his past face a new crisis; what happens to a toy once they are no longer deemed a prized possession?

Through a series of missteps Buzz, Woody, and the gang find themselves in a sort of toyland utopia – a daycare center, where they will be played with all day by children who will never tire of them and will never grow old, as a new set of enthralled youth will run through the doors for years to come.

However, the animated world is not lost to the saying “too good to be true.” Soon the toys find themselves looking to escape slobbering toddlers for their former owner even if the best scenario involves being tossed in an attic for years to come.

As Andy has matured, presumably the audience has as well, as there is a darker feel to parts of the movie that were not there before. Sure, we had the evil kids in the former films, but a sinister undertone is given to some of the new toys encountered along the way that may be a bit frightening for younger viewers. I mean one is a clown and let’s face it; those things can freak out some adults (ok, I’ll admit it, namely me).

The film is not as enjoyable as its predecessors, but can still be a lot of fun. The addition of Ken and Barbie bring freshness to the sense of nostalgia looking back on the toys we loved, not only from the series, but from our own childhoods.

Word on the street is that the 3D action is fairly tame and probably not worth the extra money (I’ll have to take the word of those that can actually see 3D as I cannot). But this is definitely worth seeing as a theater release. Even if you know it is time to move on (and it is Pixar, please don’t go “to infinity and beyond” with sequels) it still is nice to spend some quality time with those good childhood friends.