Toy Story 4 Review:

Woody: "You know, you’ve handled this lost toy life better than I could."

Bo Peep: "Open your eyes, Woody. There’s plenty of kids out there. Sometimes change can be good."

Woody: "You can’t teach this old toy new tricks."

Bo Peep: "You’d be surprised."

The already well concluded franchise is back with "Toy Story 4," a wonder of sorts that may have felt unnecessary until the final product was released. The first three films connected brilliantly, and even concluding with the best message of all in the third film. To this day I still tear up and reminisce when I watch the "Toy Story" films, I thought the "Toy Story" series wrapped up perfectly, and when I first heard about "Toy Story 4," I pondered about the idea of what they might do with the project. I became worried that the film would be a disappointment, potentially ruining the other films, even though they hold a special place in my heart. Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear will always be one of the major players from my childhood, and "Toy Story 4" serves as a unique and beautifully well told epilogue to the first three films. Offering yet again another message for most in the world, potentially pointing to all people.

"Toy Story 4" picks up with the gang, now with Bonnie (their new owner, as they were passed onto her from Andy), as she is now just starting kindergarten. Woody, who is trying to advise the group that this is gonna be huge for Bonnie starting kindergarten. When she returns home from her first day, she made a new toy out of a spork and she calls him Forky. Woody knows that Forky is special to Bonnie at this point in her life, and will attempt to take Forky under his wing and show him the way to being a toy. But Forky insists that he is not a toy and is instead trash, and when Bonnie and the gang head out on a roadtrip, Forky abandons Bonnie and group, but Sheriff Woody will not let that happen and goes after him. Woody goes on yet another adventure and comes across an old friend, Bo Peep, in the process, ultimately showing Woody the way of how to overcome the current situation. And they both show the affection and love that they always had for one another, hence brings us the forth story in this franchise.

Tom Hanks as Woody (left) and Annie Potts as Bo Peep (right) in "Toy Story 4". Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.

I find it hard to believe but what I find fascinating about each installment in this series is that it tells a sole story, adds to the overall arc and gives a different theme for each one as well. The beauty about this fourth installment is that it serves as an epilogue, an episodic story that gives just a little bit more to the ending. And one of the major upsides to this series is the continuous changes, in effective ways, in the animation department. From the very first film, with the "groundbreaking" animation that Pixar was developing does not nearly compete to what it has become today. "Toy Story 4" has some of the best attention to detail animation I have ever seen, and there are many times in the film where I was blown away by the effects that were displaying. And to be honest, once the film starts there is a scene involving rain and water, and it is astonishing how peculiar it is in the details of the animation. These character have become more real-life because of the animation department and once again, it is one of many reasons to revisit this fourth story in the series.

Along with the animation is the voicework, but partly to that extend is the script that is given as well. These actors share a special 25 year connection through these "Toy Story" films. And even with "Toy Story 4," the voices are always on par with the other ones, and they add fresh voices to this already talented group. Keanu Reeves, Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Tony Hale and even Carl Weathers and there are many more as well. But the main stars, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Annie Potts have been with these characters since the beginning and their voices for these characters will go down in film history as some of the best fleshed out characters anyone could ask for. They are very much human, inspiring us to be better people and treat the world with respect and care. These voices are iconic and seeing "Toy Story 4" and hearing the voices once again is a joy in itself.

Woody, Buzz and Bo Peep, as well as other characters in a wild and emotional adventure in "Toy Story 4". Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.

Without going too much into detail, "Toy Story 4" is a rare gem that shows the great message of what toys can do for not only a kid, but adults as well. And with Forky, being a representative for a lost and confused toy, it serves as one of the best ideas of this story. I would love to talk about the ending, but I do not want to spoil this beautiful ending that had me tearing up. These toys have showed us that you can serve more than just being a toy, the idea of people abandoning their toys and seeing kids grow up and moving onto bigger and better things, even though these toys were the very start of their life. Forky represents one last idea that I never thought this series could offer. And once you find out where the story is heading near the end of the film, most will find it endearing, touching and emotional because it resonates with most in this wonderful thing called life.

I think this film is a blast from start to finish. They use humor extremely well to tell the story, they use visual storytelling to effectively give off our emotional responses that the other films do so well. Deeply moving, and satisfyingly surprising, extremely hilarious, "Toy Story 4" is the gift that keeps on giving. I hope they are done with this group of toys and maybe move on to let the series become something even bigger. But if there is yet another story to be told, I will be always like Woody and Buzz, it might look unappealing at first, but once you get to see what is really happening, the perspective changes. And do I wish there was more Buzz Lightyear in the film? Yes, that is one of my only critiques of "Toy Story 4." Otherwise, I think series will always be one I could watch and show children of all ages, and they will connect as I did when I was young. It is hard to believe I grew up like Andy did with these toys, and seeing them in one last adventure like this as an adult paints a whole new perspective that I am greatly appreciative of. "Toy Story 4" goes to extreme heights, including to infinity and beyond.

Rating: A

Run Time: 1 Hour 40 Minutes