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Toys pack emotional punch...
> Toy Story 3
5 stars (out of 5)
Director: Lee Unkrich
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, John Morris, Jodi Benson, Laurie Metcalf, Blake Clark
Rating: (PG)
When the first Toy Story came out, it was a nice concept about the secret life of toys that appealed to a broad age range.
The follow-up, while still keeping the amusement factor, introduced a moral quandary about the best way for a toy to live. With Toy Story 3 (Rialto and Hoyts) this has emerged as the overarching theme. A toy's life is ephemeral, designed to be loved to death and then forgotten.
With Andy (John Morris) about to leave for college, his toys are waiting to find out if they will be retired to the attic, given to a day-care centre or, worst of all, put out with the rubbish.
They are prepared to go to the attic in the hope that when Andy has children of his own they will re-emerge to have a second life.
When it seems that they are to be trash, they rebel and donate themselves to the day-care. It seems the perfect solution but the day-care is under the iron grip of a stuffed toy called Lotso (Ned Beatty).
In no time the gang is breaking out in a carefully planned mission to rival any action feature.
Animators Pixar have shown great integrity in their development of the Toy Story franchise. They have not just milked it, they have developed a true three-part storyline.
Best thing: It is nice not to leave feeling as if you have just sat through a pale rerun of the original mega-hit.
Worst thing: The thing that makes this so good, the emotional coherence of the entire series, is also its weakest point. You send your kids to watch a nice story about cute toys, not to come back traumatised by a near-death experience of their fictional pals.
See it with: out young children. In the cinema, this is for older audiences. The kiddies can watch your selected highlights later on DVD.
- Christine Powley