How does one add to a film series when the most recent installment already provided near-perfect closure? This was the problem that faced Director Josh Cooley when creating Toy Story 4. After all, 2010’s Toy Story 3 already provided a great ending to the adventures of Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) when they along with their fellow toys were passed by Andy to Bonnie. That film already caused many tears due to the poignancy of the ending so how could Disney/Pixar even think of topping that?
In a flashback to a time before Toy Story 3, it is revealed that Bo Peep (Annie Potts), Woody’s long-time girlfriend was given away when Andy’s sister, Molly, had outgrown her. Woody tries to convince Bo that he can save her, but she explains that it’s part of a toy’s life to be given away. In the present, Woody sneaks into Bonnie’s backpack for her kindergarten orientation because he fears she may feel lonely. Bonnie ends up making her own toy out of trash that Woody took out for her, and she names him “Forky.” Forky (Tony Hale) comes to life, but would rather join the rest of the trash because he can’t accept that he is now Bonnie’s toy.
As Bonnie, her mom, and her dad go on a road trip, Forky keeps trying to enter various garbage bins before eventually escaping through the vehicle’s window. Woody decides that he’ll bring Forky back to the place where the RV is heading. While at the town, Woody is surprised to be reunited with Bo Peep, who has become a rescuer of lost toys. At an antique store in town, Woody and Forky meet Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks), a doll whose voicebox is broken thus leaving her without an owner. Gabby Gabby reveals that she wants Woody’s working voicebox so that the granddaughter of the antique store’s owner, Harmony, will notice her and be her owner.
Meanwhile, Buzz and the rest of the gang are trying to figure out how to find Woody. Using his “inner voice,” Buzz decides that he’ll chase after Woody but winds up as a prize at the nearby carnival alongside plush toys Ducky (Keegan-Michael Key) and Bunny (Jordan Peele). Eventually finding Woody and Bo, they recruit Ducky and Bunny to help rescue Forky, who has been kidnapped by Gabby Gabby and her henchmen, the Benson puppets. They also bring in a Canadian daredevil toy in Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) to help their rescue efforts. Can Woody and Buzz take Forky back from Gabby Gabby? Will Bo Peep return to her old friends and be Bonnie’s toy too? Will Gabby Gabby secure Woody’s voicebox and finally be adopted by Harmony?
For a franchise that first debuted in 1995, Toy Story has remained popular as the cornerstone of Pixar’s rise to prominence. The characters have become recognizable globally and are present across several multimedia platforms while reaching newer generations. The first Toy Story created that magical formula of appealing to both children (with the animation and the bright colors) and adults (with the great writing and the heartbreaking scenarios created). It’s a formula that other Pixar films (and animated features from other studios actually) have all tried to capture since, with varying degrees of success.
Introducing new toys such as Ducky, Bunny, Duke Caboom, etc. is also a Toy Story staple as the main cast has grown exponentially over the course of these two decades. Key, Peele, Hendricks, and Reeves all prove to be perfect in their respective parts. However, I was particularly entertained by the central role given to Potts’ Bo Peep, who was mostly a background character in Toy Story and Toy Story 2. This film even manages to explain why Bo wasn’t in Toy Story 3 thanks to that flashback scene yet still gives her justice and highlights how the character has evolved after being previously cast aside.
This fourth part of the story actually explores some themes previously dealt with such as abandonment and loss of toys, as well as of friendships being created, but also goes into new territory such as loneliness or shyness of a child in school and creating and loving a toy out of what’s at hand. The film’s conclusion is particularly heartbreaking especially if you’ve been watching these films since 1995, but it also perfectly closes the book on the adventures of these characters so perhaps it’s time that Disney/Pixar really does bid these characters goodbye. Going back to a very successful well has proven to be very lucrative for this franchise three times over, but happy endings like the one provided in Toy Story 4 might be too difficult to top and attempting a fifth film may tarnish the brand in the long run rather than embellish it.
About the Author:
Jason Inocencio was once the Digital Editor of adobo magazine who still loves seeing great campaigns from all over the world. He proudly shows off his love for all kinds of geeky things, whether it be movies, TV shows, comics, sports, or trivia.
