The fourth movie takes the ideas raised in Toy Story 2 - the film overtly poses the question of whether immortality is worth a lack of love - and runs them to their natural conclusion. Woody transcends from the realm of being a child's plaything and moves towards another form of existence in losing Andy and having done his job right, he's able to effectively retire. A fourth movie was almost required to round everything off.Īnd that's a responsibility Toy Story 4 takes seriously, essentially breaking the wheel. While it's true that the three movies do tell the complete story of Andy from a child through to leaving for college, there were some glaring thematic threads left hanging by its ending, namely the lack of finality in passing the toys across to Bonnie and how that merely maintains a cycle of avoidance. The announcement of Toy Story 4 back in in 2014 was almost immediately met with skepticism from long-standing fans who grew up with the original movies, not least because of the perceived view that Toy Storys 1-3 were approaching being a "perfect trilogy". Indeed, just as how life on Earth was actually created is a moot point when it comes to discussing the elusive " meaning of life", so it goes with the living playthings of Toy Story. After he calms her down, she questions what they " are", to which Forky responds bluntly, " I don't know." It's a rather tongue-in-cheek addressing of the biggest audience critique of Toy Story since 1995 from Pixar, highlighting that the internal logic isn't the point at all. This is lampshaded by the introduction of another homemade toy, a female, knife-based version of Forky. His unexpected creation and breakdown at being a piece of trash was the catalyst for Woody's own existential crisis, but the core question that his being alive raises remains: what makes a toy, a toy? It's hinted that the onus is on the child's love - Bonnie writing her name on his sticks is cited by Woody - but there are enough random cases across the Toy Story movies (such as Utility Belt Buzz in Toy Story 2) that make the idea more abstract. Perhaps the most important side of this, though, is Forky. He only admits what he wants for himself when Buzz (Tim Allen), who's been learning to trust his inner-voice, gives him the freedom to remain with Bo Peep: Bonnie doesn't need him and he doesn't need her. Still, he powers through, driven to return Forky - and himself - to Bonnie, not really understanding the transformation he's undergoing. He wants to help everyone in a bid to prove he has worth.īut the despondency with his ultimate lot is never far away, and the return of Bo Peep - with whom he considered, however briefly, running away with before turning back to Andy - gives a taste of being a " lost toy", free from that burden. In Toy Story 4, Woody goes beyond being a child's plaything into something more abstract and selfless. When meeting the rambunctious Ducky and Bunny (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, respectively), he doesn't pause in promising them a child. Woody gives up his voice box to ensure once-villain Gabby Gabby gets an owner after decades collecting dust, and risks his safety to help Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) deliver a stunt worthy of his advertisement. By way of an antique store overseen by the menacing-yet-misunderstood Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) and various fairground rides, the mission is to get Forky and Woody back to Bonnie.Īcross the movie, this drive becomes self-destructive and about more than just Bonnie. As Woody convinces Forky of his true purpose, his own perspective is shaken by remeeting lost love Bo Peep (Annie Potts). Picking up not long after Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4 sees Woody (Tom Hanks) now demoted to the closest during playtime and, after the typical string of mishaps, become custodian to a spork-turned-toy, Forky (Tony Hale), who despite being Bonnie's new favorite toy believes himself to be trash. The new entry (directed by Josh Cooley) may feature Canadian stuntmen voiced by Keanu Reeves and motorized skunk action setpieces, but this is a much more internalized and emotive look at the toys themselves - even by Pixar standards. Toy Story 4's ending is a perfect conclusion to the entire Toy Story saga, resolving both the story of Woody and bigger ideas raised across the movies. WARNING: Major spoilers for Toy Story 4 ahead.
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