[C+ Film Review] Toy Story 4: We Still Belong Together

Carey 2022-01-27 08:03:30

For a movie series, especially one without the backing of the original novel, a trilogy is a logical and natural choice when it comes to building theatrical arcs across multiple films. And the fourth installment after that, often doesn't bode well - it needs to be creative enough to open up new story directions without screwing up the existing brand.

Compared with the few success stories ("Fast and Furious 4", "Mad Max 4: Fury Road"), the fourth installment of the series that was screwed up by ambitious capital abounds. Not to mention standard examples such as "Superman 4", "Batman and Robin" and "The Expendables", the fresh samples just released include "X-Men: Dark Phoenix" and "Men in Black: Global Tracking".

And that's the problem with Pixar. As the most successful animation studio in Hollywood and even in the world, Pixar has been diluted by talent since its acquisition by Disney, and its originality has also declined significantly after the five veterans pursued their respective careers. But despite this, Pixar is still the Pixar willing to challenge itself. 1999's "Toy Story 2" had just suffered the horror moment of "deleting the library and running away", and it was reworked from beginning to end in 9 months, just because it didn't want to be the mediocre look that Disney wanted (ironically. , Disney still did "Planes" in 2013); a decade later, "Toy Story 3" further expanded the basic problem of "toy existentialism", while roundabout finding the best home for the Woody's .

After another decade, how will Pixar get past the milestone "Endgame" and still give fans a reason to embrace it?

The answer is yes. In the case of John Lasseter's departure, Pixar's teamwork of script composition found a more artistic direction in the hands of the new director Josh Cooley, who was trained internally, and continued the discussion and thinking on the fate of toys: when While Woody and Buzz are loyally and dutifully guarding their new owners, the Shepherdess also finds another new possibility for the toys.

In fact, Toy Story 4 doesn't have the same plot and emotional coherence as the first three. Before that, Toy Story 2 & 3 had already completed a fairly large macro story. And the fourth installment didn't become a whole new chapter in the framework, and instead, about Woody's "midlife crisis," became an interesting addition.

Similarly, Toy Story 4 won't deliver the epic climax that its predecessor did. But as far as Disney Pixar is concerned, as the second animated film in history to usher in its fourth spring on the big screen, "Toy Story 4" is much higher than "Shrek 4".

To be fair, the adventures of Toy Story 4 aren't new -- after all, the series itself, like nearly a decade of Pixar animations, has a self-repeating inertia -- but behind every "big rescue" , all describe and show different aspects of the identity of the toy (parent). "Toy Story 2 & 3" reflects not the fear of children leaving their parents, but the opposite. It is how parents should face their children's growth and how to find the direction of life after children leave their own lives.

In Toy Story 4, this heavy implication of parent-child relationship has received more attention. Although the exploration of the toy world is somewhat reduced, and Buzz Lightyear's character is not fully utilized (similar to Toy Story 2), this does not prevent the animation from various body humor and language. The humour combined with the continued appeal.

More importantly, what Toy Story 4 means to Pixar itself. After suffering the cringe of Cars 3, Monsters University, Finding Nemo 2, and the miserable play of Dinosaurs, Toy Story 4 is Pixar's throwback to its earlier spirit: hilarious and friendly, Humble and lively. Andrew Stanton, Peter Docter, the return of Lee Unkrich, Randy Newman's passionate high-level contributions once again, and 15-year Pixar veteran, new director Josh Cooley are all integral components.

This kind of Pixar is what we know, the Pixar who is obsessed with telling his own story, full of humanistic care and childlike innocence, and is not as keen on political/social issues as the Disney family.

Since "Toy Story" 25 years ago, the animation market has changed dramatically: CG replaced hand-painted, child-oriented and adult-oriented, and dazzling art styles. Years later, Pixar is still dedicated to Toy Story 4, once again using the latest visual effects to create new stories and adventures for these greatest toys, giving them a human-like emotion and soul.

Hopefully, Toy Story 4 is not the end of a journey, but a new beginning from the heart, once again for Pixar.

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Extended Reading
  • Eloise 2022-03-22 09:01:32

    Shepherdess is back! I feel that the film's discussion of the "accompanying attributes" and "self-will" of toys has gone a step further. Some toys yearn for the company of their owners, while some toys abandoned by their owners would rather become stray toys and yearn for a broader and more free new world!

  • Herta 2022-03-23 09:01:35

    I cried several times watching Toy Story 4. I deeply love a person and give everything for his happiness, but I can't grow up with him. In the end, it can only become his distant childhood memory. Then your world crumbles, with a broken heart and having to love another person all over again. In my heart, I always knew that one day, this child will grow up again. You will be abandoned again. It's too painful, don't take this heavy responsibility, it's not worth it. After all, you are always just a toy that will go bad, wear out and become a lost toy. I feel very relieved when I see it at the end. It is very lonely not to be needed, but it is also a kind of freedom. After watching it, I went to play at a friend's house, helped her little friend pack up the toys, and when I saw Iron Man with his arm screwed off, I couldn't help but seriously say to a five-year-old kid, "You have to be nice to the toys. ." I really got into the play too deeply.

Toy Story 4 quotes

  • Bo Peep: So, you're... uh... with a kid? It's not Andy, is it?

    Woody: No, No, No He Went Off To College, But He Gave Us To Bonnie, Oh She's...

    Bo Peep: You Have A Little Girl?

    Giggle McDimples: No Way!

    Woody: Yeah, Yeah, It's Why I'm Out Here. Her Other Toy Is Trapped In This Antique Store, And...

    Bo Peep: 'Second Chance Antiques'? We know that store.

    Woody: That's Great! That Is Great! If You Know The Store, You Can Help Me Find Him!

    Bo Peep: No way, we waited years in that store collecting dust!

    Woody: Oh, Bo That's Awful, But I Don't Have A Choice. I Have To Get That Toy From Gabby.

    Giggle McDimples: Whoa, stay away from that weirdo!

    Bo Peep: If I were you, I'd cut my loses and go home.

    Woody: But, Bonnie needs him to get through Kindergarten.

    Bo Peep: Oh, kids lose toys everyday, Bonnie will get over it.

    Woody: No, No, No But, But You See... You See Bonnie Needs Him Just Like... Molly Needed You!

    [Sheep Go To Woody]

    Woody: Oh, No Sorry Girls, Molly's Not Here.

    Giggle McDimples: Molly? Wow I Didn't Know You Had A Kid.

    Bo Peep: That was a long time ago.

    Woody: Oh Bo's Kid Was Something Special. She Was The Cutest Thing, But, So Afraid Of The Dark

    Bo Peep: It was just a phase.

    Woody: Oh You Weren't There From The Beginning, Hearing Molly Crying Each Night, It Broke Every Toys Heart. But Then, Bo Came Into The Room, Her Lamp, Was The Only Thing That Made Molly Feel Safe, Mum Would Let Her Keep Bo On All Night.

    Giggle McDimples: Whoa, Who Knew You Were Such A Softy!

    Woody: And Molly Would Fall Asleep With Her Hand Resting On Bo's Feet

    Bo Peep: Okay, Okay, I Get It!

    Woody: Bo, My Kid Really Needs This Toy, Will You Help Me? For Old-Times Sake?

    Bo Peep: All right, all right.

    Woody: THANK YOU! OH, THANK YOU!

  • Bo Peep: So, How About You, How's Your New Kid?

    Woody: Bonnie? Oh, She's Great, Jessie Is Loving It!

    Bo Peep: Jessie's Still With You?

    Woody: Oh Yeah, The Whole Gang's Still Together, Well I Mean, Most Of Us.

    Bo Peep: What About Rex?

    Woody: Yeah, Yeah, Rex, Bullseye, Slinky, The Potato Head's

    Bo Peep: Buzz?

    Woody: Yeah, Yeah, Buzz Too, I Cannot... Wait To See His Face When He Hears That I Found...

    Buzz Lightyear: Bo Peep?

    Bo Peep: Buzz!

    [Buzz Laughs]

    Bo Peep: My Old Moving Buddy, It's So Good To See You!

    Buzz Lightyear: Woody, It's Bo Peep!

    [Same Time As Woody]

    Buzz Lightyear: What Are You Doing Here?

    Woody: Buzz?

    [Same Time As Buzz]

    Woody: What Are You Doing Here?

    [Ducky & Bunny Push Buzz Down The Roof, Buzz's Buttons Keep Pushing]

    Woody: 'Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz Lightyear To The Rescue'!

    Bunny: Three Years!

    Ducky: THREE YEARS!

    Bunny: That's How Long We've Been Hanging Up There Waiting For A Kid!

    Buzz Lightyear: Look, I'm Sorry About That...

    Ducky: You Ruined Our Lives, Shame On You

    [Starts Crying]

    Woody: Who Are These Guys?

    Ducky: Lightyear Promised Us A Kid!

    Woody: You Did What!

    Buzz Lightyear: I Did Not!