Toy Story 3 Review

Pixar Still Has a Friend In Me

Last night, I went to see the midnight release of Toy Story 3. I opted for the mighty wonder of I-Max 3D to guide me through two hours with my favorite toys. The tickets were over priced, coming in at fifteen dollars a pop. The theater was packed to the point my friend and I contemplated splitting up and sitting separate. To top it all off, the copy of the movie we were shown had at least one glitch in it and didn’t project in 3D.

These conditions could’ve easily made a movie crowd lose it’s cool. Hell, there could’ve been a full on revolt, people demanding their money back, throwing popcorn or ice. However there wasn’t any of that, well at least until after the movie.

The previews treated us to a new Zack Snyder movie about owls called Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. Half the trailer was set to "Kings and Queens" by 30 Seconds to Mars, and featured what someone in the theater described as "nothing but cuteness". However the movie looks like it was geared towards the below twelve age range. However if the movie was using you know, real human, instead of these owls, it would probably peak my interest.

The second trailer we saw was for Tron: Leagacy. I don't know how this movie can be bad, 3D and I-Max sales will soar for this and Daft Punk is doing the musical score. AND it contains one of Special Ed's favorite actors of all time...The Dude. The auidence applauded this trailer, I don't know what that was about but whatever.

Toy Story 3 is a rather typical movie at this stage of the game. It’s Pixar and Disney, so you know what you’re going to get. There will a short animated “movie” before the actual movie begins, and of course this was no different. The short this time was entitled “Day and Night” it centered on two characters, one obviously Day and the other obviously Night. They were set against a black screen, and through their bodies you saw snips of scenes during the day and scenes at night.

One of the scenes took place in Las Vegas, where both Day and Night we're looking for strippers and cocaine. Just kidding in Vegas, Day impressed Night with the sounds of people winning jackpots and playing the various slot machines. Night looked very impressed until he stepped over Sin City and lit it up with neon lights and old time dance music. Day was very partial to this and took to dancing, a lot of dancing.

Another scene took place by the shore, for you non Jersey Shore go-ers that means beach. Day illuminated a scene of a woman sunbathing listening to a radio. She was blonde, had big boobs and was wearing a red bikini. Kinda looking like this. I think somewhere that’s called type casting. Either way, Night fell madly in love with her, however when he tried to step over to where she was the scene switched to night and revealed only her left behind trash.

The other noteworthy scene included Day trying to get night to go to a radio station to play dance music. While Day was dancing he backed over the radio tower and revealed a national radio address. Night talked him into staying on top of the tower so they could hear the rest. I cannot find the transcript of the address but it was about creativity and wonderful things that Pixar loves.

The short was very impressive and was a beautiful mix of both 2D and 3D technology. I was thoroughly impressed with it, after doubting it at first. However this was all just a warm up.

The Main Event of course was the film it’s self. I had been waiting eleven years for this particular film (that’s longer then I waited for Dark Knight mind up) and right away the film delivers.

Toy Story 3 starts off with a bang. You’re treated to a scene that brings together elements of the first two movies. Evil Dr. Porkchop and One Eyed Bart have teamed up again and this time they are going to take it to Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye and Rex, “who eats force field dogs”. While this scene is going on, the viewer wonders why they are recycling a “storyline” from the first films, when suddenly the credits kick in and play over an old VHS type recording of Andy playing with his toys. The credits are of course set to the popular “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” recording done by Randy Newman.

A few minutes into the movie and the crowd was already tearing up. I don’t want to give too much away but this movie played perfectly to its crowd. It connected more to the first movie then the second in my opinion, which is a good thing. It played perfectly to recent graduates, whether it be grade school or high school, as the message behind the movie is of course something along the lines of sticking together and not forgetting who you are/who your friends are.

The folks at Pixar introduce us to new characters in this one, there’s Big Baby, Lot’s O-Huggin Bear (but you can call him Lots’O), Chuckles, Dolly, Trixie and probably the “star” of the movie Ken (voiced by Michael Keaton of all people). Ken and Barbie of course end up getting together in the long run, but not before their relationship hits a few rough patches, such as angry toys, toddlers, glitter.

At one point Pixar launches into a full on spoof of “Cool Hand Luke”. The scene revolves around Buzz giving the rules of the Caterpillar Room at Sunside Daycare to his prisoners (Hamm, the Potato Heads, Rex, Jessie and Bullseye) Just remember to be back in your bunk, or you spend the night in the Box.

Let’s be honest, it was sad. I talked to a friend who said he was tearing up, especially at the end. The folks at Pixar really take you on an emotional rollercoaster. Why not though, that’s what we love and that’s what they do so well. Anyone going off to college in the fall will love this movie, as it literally takes place three days before Andy (now 17) heads off to school. Perhaps though it’s the toys that teach us the best lesson in the film, stick together as a family, as friends, and nothing is truly impossible.

After the movie, the crowd wasn’t happy about the lack of 3D. Given the current ticket price of 3D movies, who the hell can blame them. But the fine people of Neshaminy 24 theaters made nice and gave everyone in my theater a free movie voucher. It’s unlimited, meaning I can see any movie with it. Well done Nesh, well done.

Overall, I give it an A-. Pixar delivers once again. That's to be expected at this point.