Toy Story 4 (2019)

Directed by: Josh Cooley | 100 minutes | animation, adventure | Original voice cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Madeleine McGraw, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Ally Maki, Jay Hernandez, Lori Alan, Joan Cusack, Bonnie Hunt, Kristen Schaal, Emily Davis, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Blake Clark, June Squibb, Carl Weathers, Lila Sage Bromley, Don Rickles, Jeff Garlin, Estelle Harris, Laurie Metcalf, Steve Purcell, Mel Brooks, Alan Oppenheimer, Carol Burnett, Betty White, Carl Reineroceros, Bill Hader, Patricia Arquette, Timothy Dalton, Flea, Melissa Villaseñor, Jeff Pidgeon, John Morris

Forget everything you always thought about sequels. That they are only made to fill the cash register, that the quality of the films deteriorates further in terms of quality. That philosophy may hold true for many franchises, but certainly not for Disney/Pixar’s beloved ‘Toy Story’ series. In fact; the films seem to get better and better, to gain more depth and to strike the right emotional chord. And that in a genre in which it is certainly not easy to breathe life into the characters, we regularly see that in the competition from Disney/Pixar. The themes broached in the ‘Toy Story’ films are increasingly becoming the core of our existence. In the first part – again dating from 1995! – we see cowboy doll Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) struggling with the fact that he is no longer the only favorite toy of boy Andy, and must overcome his jealousy to eventually form an unbreakable friendship with Buzz Lightyear ( Tim Allen). In ‘Toy Story 2’ (1999), the friendship between the two is put to the test when Woody is taken by a collector who would prefer to put him in a display case in the original packaging. This is where Woody first comes to a thought that would often return as a theme later on: what if Andy at a certain point gets tired of him? A thought that becomes reality in part three from 2010: Andy goes to college and the toys are donated to a nursery where a discarded, badly injured teddy bear is in charge. Fortunately, after a perilous adventure at a garbage dump, Woody and his friends get a second chance as little Bonnie becomes their new owner.

After three films, the circle seemed to be complete, but nine years after ‘Toy Story 3’, Disney / Pixar still comes with a fourth film. The story wasn’t finished yet, and four key creative minds from the Pixar stable—Lee Unkrich, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and John Lasseter—had such a strong idea that they had to make the film. Lasseter, who had directed the first three films and was eager to shoot this fourth installment, became involved in a #MeToo scandal during the production process and stepped down to make way for Josh Cooley, a talented animator who has been working as an animator since 2004. storyboard artist made his mark at the studio and after the short ‘Riley’s First Date?’ (2015, who accompanied ‘Inside Out’ in cinemas) to direct his first full-length animated film. ‘Toy Story 4’ is essentially a love story, in which Woody runs into his former girlfriend Bo Peep (Annie Potts) again. Bo Peep was not seen in the third film, and why that was is explained in an epilogue in this fourth part. Incidentally, in these first minutes of ‘Toy Story 4’ we already see that Pixar is still at dizzying heights in animation land: the animations are so lively, warm and lifelike that you hardly notice that you are watching a cartoon.

All the well-known dolls from the previous parts also appear in this film: in addition to Woody and Buzz, we also see Mr. and mrs. Potato Head, Jessie and Bullseye, Hamm, Slinky and Rex. They are all having a good time with the girl Bonnie, except Woody. He was always number one with Andy, but Bonnie regularly leaves it unused in the closet and it starts to gnaw. Woody is looking for purpose in his life, and it seems to present itself soon enough. Bonnie is going to kindergarten for the first time and she finds that quite exciting. Woody slips in her backpack and tries to help her on her first day unnoticed. And it works very well, because Bonnie gets into crafting and creates a new boyfriend that she calls Forky (Tony Hale) with a spork (combined disposable spoon and fork), some pipe cleaners, stick-on eyes and a broken popsicle stick. The pieced-together figure is immediately bombed into Bonnie’s new favorite toy, but turns out to be in a sort of identity crisis himself: because it’s in his head that he is garbage, he dives into every trash can he comes across. To save Bonnie from a big drama, Woody ducks after it to save Forky. Even when the newcomer jumps out the window during a motorhome trip with Bonnie and her parents along the highway. During the hike from the highway to the campground, a close bond develops, but then Forky is kidnapped in an old antique shop by classic speaking doll Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) and her creepy army of ventriloquist dolls. It’s Woody’s job to rescue his newfound friend (and thus reclaim his raison d’être in Bonnie’s toy collection). He gets help from an old acquaintance…

Every ‘Toy Story’ movie basically follows a similar pattern: one or a few toys get separated from the group or from their owner and have to overcome the necessary hurdles to reunite. That sounds pretty basic, and it is on paper. Where Pixar wins and steals viewers’ hearts time and time again is with the emotional depth of their stories. The characters, even if they are dolls made of cloth, plush, plastic or porcelain, go through a development that not only brings them to life, but also manages to stir up existential questions of life. Woody thinks about the meaning of his existence: is there still life if my owner no longer wants/needs me? What is the fate of discarded toys? How do I fill my life when I’m no longer played with? Dolls like Woody depend on a child’s whims. However, Bo Peep proves otherwise; the porcelain shepherdess was given away but managed to pick up the thread of her life again and now lives as a free-spirited, lively nomad. Would that be in it for Woody too? Or is he afraid he won’t make it without that permanent home base and will he settle for a place in the closet?

‘Toy Story 4’ is full of questions like this and digs deep, but still manages to keep it light. A slew of new characters is introduced, most notably rampant fairground cuddly toys Ducky (Keegan-Michael Key) and Bunny (Jordan Peele) and dumped Canadian stunt pilot Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) causing some hilarity. Behind each figure there is a story, which is revealed between all the breathtaking animations, the brisk pace at which the chases follow each other and all the brilliant references to earlier films (just take a good look at the shelves in the second-hand antique shop!). In this way ‘Toy Story 4’ works towards a phenomenal emotional conclusion, which briefly summarizes all those life questions once again and arrives at a final conclusion that will be heard for a long time to come. To love is also to let go. That certainly applies to this ‘Toy Story’ franchise. Great if you know how to keep it dry!