Trying to organize my thoughts on this movie is like trying to bag a hurricane, if you’ll pardon the cheesy metaphor. There are way, way too many things swirling around to address in a simple movie review because the fact is, this isn’t just about the movie, it’s about the studio, the medium, the audience, the critics and the awards. So I’m just going to type for a while and see what comes out and if I need to go back and organize, I’ll go back and organize. This isn’t a review so much as a reaction, it’s going to have spoilers so be warned. Away we go…
I liked this movie, obviously. It was good, it was great, it was Pixar, but I’m not so sure it was the end-all, be-all of films that people have been making it out to be. I liked Toy Story 2 more. Hell, I liked How to Train Your Dragon more. I didn’t cry. If that makes me a terrible person, so be it.
Pixar is confident and courageous when it comes to filmmaking because they’re run by successful creatives, an exceptionally rare group. They have the unusual ability to take an idea and run with it as far as they can without fear that an exec is going to shut them down because it’s not marketable. It’s the magic of filmmaking at its best. And let me make one thing perfectly clear: in my humble opinion, (as this entire post is, for the record,) if TS3 didn’t have the first two Toy Story films to stand on, if I wasn’t already in love with these characters, it would be a hard sell. Without built-in fans from Pixar’s 24 years of existence there is no way they could peg a demographic for this movie. I mean I recognize that that’s the nature of a sequel (or third film or whatever), to make use of existing fans and connections, but I felt like my attachment to these characters was being abused. This isn’t a movie I would have gone out of my way to watch if it was anyone other than Buzz, Woody and Jessie in the lead. So with these characters and with their confidence and with their throngs of unwavering supporters, Pixar and their team of exceptionally talented artists were able to crank out yet another earthshattering success, despite scene after scene that would make any other studio pause.
Let’s talk about death for a moment, shall we? Disney has never, ever balked in the face of death in their films. Who hasn’t been quizzed on which Disney films have both parents alive? And in one of the few – 101 Dalmations – the characters are under a constant threat of being skinned, drowned, having their heads bashed in. Death and Disney are good friends and good business partners, it seems, and obviously with last year’s Up Pixar is following suit, using the loss of a loved one to tug at our heartstrings and bring the audience in.
All of Andy’s beloved toys, with the exception of our leads, are long gone. Poignantly shown in one wide shot this requires no further explaination. Addressing the departure of Bo Peep with a single throwaway line, however, made me a little sad. She was never really a main character, never part of the adventure and I know most people think she was a waste of space, but I did like her and I was happy that Woody had someone, as Jessie and Buzz worked so hilariously well together. It is unclear whether she was literally thrown away or if she was donated, but I was secretly hoping that Bonnie would have that Bo Peep lamp in her room and the two would be reunited. This would have effectively kept her away from the main adventure but at the same time have made Woody’s decision to leave Bonnie’s room that much more dramatic, and finally creating a true homecoming at the end. But, unlike big brother Disney, Pixar is not in the business of romance. Bo’s exit was swift, painless, and her character easily forgotten.
But that’s not what you’re thinking of when I mention death in Toy Story 3. What you’re thinking of is that scene in the incinerator when our heroes hold hands, sit back, and calmly accept their impending, unavoidable and downright horrifying fate. To this scene I say, WHAT THE HELL, PIXAR. I frankly don’t even know how to react to this. It’s unexpected, it’s terrible and wonderful, it’s unmistakably mature to the point of shining a light on more silly parts of the film. Any movie that has our hero flapping his arms like Wile E. Coyote to stay afloat doesn’t lend itself to see that same hero laying down to die. It is truly fascinating to see the two personalities shine through in one film, but I’m not so sure if I, as an innocent viewer, was ready for it. Go ahead and say that makes me immature, but keep in mind this film is being marketed towards 10 year olds and if I was thrown for a loop, imagine how THEY feel. I’m 23, born a mere few months after Pixar was founded, and that goddamn studio is more mature than I will ever be – or ever want to be.
Through it all though, we never lost sight of the fact that these characters are TOYS, and it was completely eye-opening how much this was finally used – moreso in fact than in Toy Story or Toy Story 2. It was as though for the first two movies they were merely little people (with the exception I guess of Slinky Dog), doing things as people do, but in this movie, oh in this movie were they ever toys. Resetting Buzz to factory demo was flawless, I’m not quite sure how they brought him back but I’m not going to question it. Mr and Mrs Potato Head were really brought into their own, using and abusing their limbs and parts more than anyone would have thought possible. At first the Dali inspired Mr Tortilla Head weirded me out, but after the initial “wow, I don’t think I’m comfortable with this,” you just have to give in and laugh.
Speaking of things I wasn’t fully comfortable with – the baby doll? The baby doll. Necessary character, perfect character, EERIE AS HELL CHARACTER. Not even going to begin to dive into the psychology of a grown baby mind in a stronger-than-it-should-be body, good grief. I haven’t even been able to look at Lee Unkrich’s “big baby” photo tweets. I should note that baby dolls have always creeped me out a little bit so this certainly didn’t help any.
I liked everything about Sunnyside. Lotso was PERFECT and I am thrilled that he remained a villain ’til the very end and didn’t bother to redeem himself. Ken was amazing, of course. The cymbal monkey scared the everloving crap out of me but hey, that’s what he’s there for. I also loved that they found ways to include the Pizza Planet truck and especially Sid and the nod to Wheezy (Joe Ranft) and all the other little easter eggs that we nerds keep an eye out for.
A quick word on awards: TS3 is going to be nominated for an Oscar and it’s going to win an Oscar because it’s a Pixar movie and that’s how it works. I’m not saying it doesn’t deserve an award – because rest assured, it certainly does – but I’m concerned about which award it receives. It is more than likely going to be nominated for Best Picture which I’m oddly okay with – more okay, in fact, than when Up was nominated. But this introduces a debate which I’ve been wishing would take the mainstream by storm and I hope someday will: animation is a MEDIUM, not a GENRE. Anything that encompasses both VeggieTales: The Movie and Mary & Max is not not not a genre. If you want to have an award for “Best Animated Feature” you’re categorizing it as a genre alongside Comedy/Musical and Drama and so on. So if we want to consider “Best Animated” as animated films have been described, referred to or otherwise considered for years, as light family fare, I offer you this perplexing (and potentially upsetting) statement: I, personally, believe TS3 could easily win Best Picture, but should not win Best Animated. What bugs me above all else is, similar to Up last year, if it is nominated for Best Picture the other animated films released this year don’t stand a chance, and frankly that’s not fair. All comedies were made to be comedies, all musicals were made to be musicals. Not all animated films were made to be heartstopping works of drama.
There’s more I could write but I’m running out of steam. Yes it’s a good movie, yes it is deserving of praise, yes it is unique and game-changing in terms of mainstream animation. Hate me for my critique if you like, feel free to disagree, but be constructive about it.
8/10