Toy Story 4 Review & Disney World Stuff
When Disney and Pixar first announced Toy Story 4, I was skeptical. The first three movies had been exceptional, and the third put a perfect bow on the trilogy. At the time, Pixar’s slate was already sequel-heavy; the studio seemed to be adopting a risk-averse approach, revisiting bankable existing properties.
When the first teaser was released, I was terrified. Forky felt at-odds with the existing characters, and I worried that Toy Story 4 would be a mess. Different for its own sake, and perhaps centered around the existential crisis of a potentially grating character. A victory lap that rehashes prior themes or motifs is one thing, but an edgy, meta, or tonally dissonant film has the potential to undermine the legacy of the films that preceded it.
Fortunately, none of that is even remotely the case with Toy Story 4. Unlike Finding Dory or Monsters University, this sequel doesn’t feel unnecessary. While I enjoyed both of those movies (and really, every Pixar film except the Cars sequels), it’s fair to say they were not stories that needed to be told. Toy Story 4 is purposeful, adding something important to the Toy Story saga…
Toy Story 4’s purpose is, quite literally, examining purpose. The underlying themes are deep and resonant, just as you’d expect from this franchise. For starters, you can put any fears you may have about Forky to rest; the character is amusing, endearing, and a physical manifestation of the film’s introspective nature. Toy Story 4 is technically “about” Forky, but he’s as much the MacGuffin used to advance the plot in service of exploring Woody’s story than anything else.
In typical Toy Story fashion, the movie will leave you an emotional wreck. The good news here is that, whereas the last film bordered on emotional trauma (and I mean that in the best possible way), Toy Story 4 is more a roller coaster of emotions. The moments that tug at your heartstrings (and there are several) are perfectly balanced against moments of laugh out loud humor.
On that note, it’s easily the funniest Toy Story movie. In addition to the reliable chuckles provided by Buzz, Woody, and friends, it’s the newcomers here who deliver the deep belly laughs. Unsurprisingly, Key and Peele’s carnival prize duo steal every scene they’re in. Likewise, Keanu Reeves’ Duke Caboom and Tony Hale’s Forky provide a lot of laughs. (Fans of Arrested Development or Veep will appreciate the pitch-perfect casting of Forky.)
The general weirdness of it all is itself humorous. This is a very different type of Toy Story movie, but it’s not unharmonious with the rest. There are scenes that teeter between zany fun and over-the-top absurd, but Toy Story 4 always stays on the right side of that balance. There’s some beguiling humor (some of which is seemingly inspired by the Twilight Zone?!), but the writers also realize that Toy Story 4 contains heavy material that deserves appropriate treatment.
While I never felt the pace and chaos were too much, I wouldn’t have been averse to Toy Story 4 being about 20 minutes longer. It would’ve provided a bit more breathing room, and also could’ve given a bit more screen time to the legacy supporting cast, many of whom have cursory treatment and only a few lines.
In the end, that’s arguably a good thing. Sure, it’s disappointing for fans not to spend more time with their favorite characters, but the point is that Toy Story 4 is not simply a victory lap. (At times, the movie appears made with acute awareness of both its own existence and its themes. It’s curiously self-aware.)
With Toy Story 4, there are real stakes, meaningful growth, and the story ends in a very different place than it began. I’d say this is the fitting conclusion to the Toy Story series, but there’s also a note of uncertainty. After this outing, I’ll trust in the Pixar braintrust; if they have a strong idea in mind for Toy Story 5, I’m ready for it.
In terms of what’s happening at Walt Disney World right now in celebration of Toy Story 4…surprisingly little. There are a few desserts on the various counter service restaurant menus and a couple of new props in Toy Story Land.
The Forky pictured above is now on display in Toy Story Land, and it isn’t clear whether he’ll be used for meet & greets in the future. It’d be cool and unique if Woody “struggled” to prevent Forky from jumping into a nearby trash can.
There’s also a Bo Peep meet & greet character in Toy Story Land. When I first saw promotional images of her, it gave me a flashback to the Fairy Godmother character at Tokyo Disneyland. Sarah likes the meet & greet character a lot more (and loved Bo Peep’s role in the film), so perhaps I’m off-base. I guess the big difference here is that it’s a porcelain toy with a glossy meet & greet face, rather than a human character with that appearance.
As we covered in our recent Disney’s Hollywood Studios Update, a new ‘pop-up’ gift ship opened in the exit of Toy Story Mania. You’ll find a bunch of Toy Story 4 merchandise, including a slew of other items. Here’s a fun video of what’s far and away my favorite:
Remember how it was a trend a few years ago to yell “Andy’s Coming!” around the Woody and Buzz Lightyear meet & greet characters at Walt Disney World? The characters did it once, it went viral online, and then you couldn’t stand in line for more than a few minutes without hearing a random guest yell “Andy’s Coming!” It got so bad we even addressed it in our Mythbusters: Walt Disney World Edition post.
There are actually a lot of cool new things for Toy Story 4, including the following:
That’s really about it. Hopefully Walt Disney World will make some more Toy Story 4 additions to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Not only because the land could use a nice boost, but because the film is sure to be a smash hit, and several of the new characters are going to become instant favorites. Just leave out those living dummies and Talky Tina–or put them in Tower of Terror!
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Your Thoughts
Are you looking forward to Toy Story 4 or are you likewise incredulous about the movie’s very existence? If you’ve seen it, do you agree or disagree with our review? Wish Disney would do more with Toy Story Land and the new movie? Thoughts on the “someone’s coming!” Woody and Buzz Lightyear toys? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We have been a toy story family 20 yrs, love TS4 especially the Tower of Terror subtlety of the Manequin. We noticed him several years ago. He sits at the exit at one of the elevator shafts. Then when he started playing a song on the phonograph that was eerily similar to the music you hear in the lobby. Genius.
Both the Tower of Terror prop and the Toy Story character are a nod to the Twilight Zone episode, “The Dummy.”
I thought Forky was HILARIOUS! But some of the movie seemed to drag on unnecessarily, like they were just trying to make the movie long enough so people wouldn’t complain about it being too short. And the dummies were totally creepy. I did get a little choked up at the end though.
Sorry – I just didn’t like it. At all. Forky was ok but the rest of the movie went back and forth between being dull and scary. At first it was fun to have all the characters back, but then it seemed forced and then it seemed bad. And Bo’s story made no sense at all – nor did the ending. A total disappointment.
I read your spoiler free review before seeing the movie, and then wanted to read it again as soon as I got home, to see if it settled my uncertainty of how I felt about the film. But alas, it didn’t. I enjoyed TS4, but while it did have the themes you refer to above, it didn’t resonate so deeply for me. I didn’t leave an emotional wreck (there was a moment or two that briefly got me mildly vaclempt, but nothing like TS3). I feel like I could have done without TS4 (despite enjoying it), and hope they leave well enough alone. 🙁 Bummer.
Even spoiler-free, I avoided this review until after seeing the film. I was really nervous when they announced this film, because I didn’t want them to mess with a near-perfect trilogy. (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?). Luckily, they didn’t and the movie was great. I can’t make a choice on if it was better or worse than others in the series, but I’m glad it held it’s own at worst.
One comment about the “Andy’s Coming” line in the parks – it absolutely happened more than once. When my daughter was little we met Buzz and Woody at the M&G across from TSMM and the cast member attendant whispered to my daughter to say “Andy’s Coming”. She was really shy, but finally said it and the characters went limp (this was before it was online). It was a pretty neat moment for her.
Just watching the first 12 minutes at DHS a few weeks ago had me in tears so I can only imagine the entire movie! Thanks for sharing and now I am even more excited.
Why are Bo & Barbie dressed like twins? Thanks for the review!
After your review….Yes I am absolutely looking forward to Toy Story 4.
I’m very excited for TS4. Thanks for your great review and your reminder that I will need to bring a lot of tissues for it!
I’m surprised you didn’t feel Monsters University as a necessary prequel. To me, Monsters U is actually more compelling and creative than Monsters Inc., and really explores the relationship between Sully and Mike, and their individual bildungsroman. I’m glad they chose to make a prequel rather than a sequel. My rewatchings of Monsters Inc. have been greatly enhanced in light of Monsters U.
I have absolutely nothing against Monsters U. I liked it and I’d watch it again.
However, I think there’s something different between Pixar’s best movies and its non-Toy Story sequels. The former usually have something deeper and stick with you after you watch them, whereas the latter are often fun and enjoyable but unnecessary.
For me, Toy Story 4 is firmly in the former category. While hilarious, sentimental, etc., it’s also an incredibly thought-provoking movie.
I agree 100% on the emotional resonance point. Even many of the “shorts” Pixar has created have more depth and emotional impact in 5 minutes than some of the sequels do in the entire films (which is more a celebration of the quality of those short films than me knocking the sequels, which are still well-made and entertaining).
Not to go off on a tangent here, but the only non-sequel Pixar film I was disappointed in was The Good Dinosaur. As a dinosaur-lover (like you) I thought there was so much unexplored potential in that film and the narrative really left me wanting more. I know the production of that film was delayed/problematic and I think Pixar would even admit it wasn’t the studio’s best effort. Thankfully it seems to have just been an anomaly in their illustrious history.
I loved Monsters University! My favorite thing is that when they broke a rule they knew would get them expelled they admitted it and took the consequences and found a new way to reach their dream. What a great lesson! Choosing to break the rule was totally their idea, and they had to pay the price, but the university helped them find a new way and valued them even more.
I think that MU’s problem, if you would call it that, is that there wasn’t a surprise or unexplored area of the concept. Sure, it was fine in telling the story of Mike and Sulley, but there wasn’t the novelty of the child scaring the monsters or laughing creating more energy. You knew all of that already. So, it was “just” Animal House through the Monsters lens. To me, it just wasn’t as interesting of a concept, where the original was.