| Image

Review: ‘Toy Story 4’ Is the Conclusion We Didn’t Know We Needed

When Pixar released Toy Story 3 in 2010, many of us, including myself, saw it as the conclusion to a long-running saga. So, to many, it came as a surprise when Disney announced in 2014 that Buzz (Tim Allen) and Woody (Tom Hanks) were returning for one more adventure. Toy Story 4 came to theaters on June 21, 2019 to prove once again that Pixar is the master of animated storytelling.

The plot this time around follows the cast of toys belonging to the young Bonnie, to whom Andy gave his toys when he left for college. Bonnie and her family, along with her toys and new favorite, Forky, head on a road trip where at a carnival, Woody encounters Bo Peep, his old love and a toy that was sold off years ago. From there, we are introduced to several new characters, as sequels tend to do, some of which are kind of hit or miss.

For one, Bo Peep (Annie Potts), who isn’t technically new but has been completely reinvented for this movie, is great. Her personality is wonderfully fun and her emotional and thematic role in the story is terrific. Giggle McDimples (Ally Maki), her diminutive cop partner, is another riotously fun character. In the same vein are Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves), and Ducky and Bunny (Key and Peele). These characters are all delightful, in no small part due to their eccentric and smart casting. On the villainous side, however, we have Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) and her posse of dummies. The former is a bit flat and her arc is a little bit cliché. The latter’s problem lies in the fact that they are genuinely unnerving. The issue here is not just that it might not make it as much of a family film, but that the tone set by these characters feels a little off compared to the rest of the movie (or even the franchise). As for the aforementioned Forky, I personally found him a bit weird as a concept (a toy that has recently gained consciousness and refuses to accept that is a bit macabre for Toy Story) but he’s definitely a good time on-screen.

Regardless of smaller gripes, each of these characters are at least at a baseline level of entertainment, made so by great vocal performances from the cast and consistently good humor throughout the movie. Additionally, the folks at Pixar certainly have no shortage of creativity when it comes to character design. With each installment they seem to keep finding different types of toys to make into characters and doing so with great success. With as big as the cast is by this point, however, it doesn’t seem like every character gets their time to shine. I don’t know what really could be done about this as it just seems to be a natural consequence of making sequels. That being said, Toy Story 4 still does as good a job as it can of giving every character as much interesting moments as possible.

The movie’s overall plot is very well written, despite some awkward pacing at a couple moments. It maintains the emotional lessons that Pixar is known for and delivers them in a way that is consistently engaging. In this regard, what I think Toy Story 4 does especially well is the structuring of its emotional tension. At the risk of very minor spoilers I’ll say that the key tension in the movie has to do with a difficult decision that must be made. This, I think, is incredibly potent. The tear-jerker of an ending comes not from simply a sad or happy circumstance, but due to the stress of making a difficult choice. In this way, Toy Story 4 ends on a naturally bittersweet note, providing a wonderful send-off to these characters. Above all else, this is what I love about this movie. In a franchise where every installment was as meaningful as the last, Toy Story 4 feels like a beautiful, satisfying conclusion to one of the best animated sagas cinema has ever seen.

4/5 STARS

| Image

UW Film Club Podcast #41 – Toy Story 4

“You can’t teach this old podcaster new tricks.
You’d be surprised.”

The long-awaited fourth entry in the Toy Story franchise is finally upon us! In this episode, we talk about the series’ legacy, the surprisingly mature philosophical themes, and everyone’s new favorite character, Forky! Did this fourth installment justify its existence? Find out on the 41st episode of the UW Film Club Podcast!

On this episode: Cynthia Li and Jim Saunders.

You can find us on Facebook at /UWFilmClub, and on Twitter and Instagram @FilmClubUW. Make sure to rate, comment, and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify, and Google Play, and tune in every Monday for a new episode of the UW Film Club Podcast!

| Image

Review: Fun Runs in the Family with Incredibles 2

After 14 years, Pixar has returned to the series that helped establish them as a household name. Since then, the animation studio has leaned into their franchises and produced more sequels in their last 8 years than they did in their first 15 years if existence. To the dismay of many, these sequels have not lived up to the pedigree of the originals (sans Toy Story) as films like Cars 2 & 3, Monsters University, and Finding Dory have received mixed reception. Of all their franchises, The Incredibles always stood as one of the films that would be easily positioned for a sequel, but now we finally have it, and while it doesn’t live up to the masterful achievement that is the original, it is still a highly entertaining film.

After the events of the original, the Parr family still faces public condemnation. Their rampant destruction has caused the government to shutter the relocation program and uphold the ban on supers. In the aftermath, Bob (Mr. Incredible voiced by Craig T. Nelson) and Hellen (Elastigirl voiced by Holly Hunter) receive an offer from Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk), a mogul who wants to carry out a publicity campaign to make supers appreciated again. After agreeing, Deavor focuses on promoting Elastigirl first, causing Bob to become a stay at home dad who solves family problems for Dash (Huck Miner), Violet (Sarah Vowell), and Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) while Hellen tackles the new threat, the Screen Slaver.

Returning to direct is the ever-demanding craftsman, Brad Bird. This return comes after his brief stint in live-action, and even though his last film, Tomorrowland, wasn’t well received, his directorial role is duly noted as the film hones in on the Parrs and makes them the stars of the show. Bird seems to be keenly aware of this and uses them to further their pre-established relationships, networking scene interactions so we get insights into who they are and what stands to be changed in the sequel. For example, Bob reluctantly becomes a stay at home dad who gets more interactions with the kids, and in doing so, he finds out that his identity isn’t entirely tied to his superhero persona.

Unlike the first film, Incredibles 2 opts out of emphasizing emotional moments in favor for something more fun and enjoyable. It is a film we’ve been anticipating for a long time, so seeing the Parrs back in action again is something that is both nostalgic and welcomed. The banter of family arguments, the challenge of overcoming daily routines, and their ultimate unity are what makes the Parrs so lovable and these moments not only make for great moments of comedy, but also build the core of the film. Like the original, this feature is by default a super hero film, but more prevalent is ‘the family film’ where mother, father, son, daughter, and baby all mix and mingle to reveal inherent truths about the modern family. The core family unit is still front and center here and serves as one of the key differentiators to other super hero films. Also as an aside, Jack-Jack get much more screen time and he ends up stealing the entire, namely with two scenes that involve fighting a raccoon and meeting Edna Mode for the first time. It’s hard not to find baby humor adorable and funny at the same time.

It’s a shame that with such a lovely nuclear family that the villain isn’t all that good. Whereas Syndrome had a clear motive that tied in directly with Mr. Incredible, the Screen Slaver (and the real life identity of this individual) is lacking as the character feels like a prop to facilitate Parr family action rather than any meaningful existence. The film flies closer to the norms of super hero films today, but the Parr family is front and center here and their dynamic is enough to exceed the emotional shortcomings of the narrative.

Within that narrative though, we do get more of Holly Hunter’s Elastigirl and a pro-feminist message to boot. While Bob stays home and takes care of the kids, Helen goes out and fights crime. It’s a gender role reversal that is welcomed and discussed through Bob’s initial reluctancy to accept this maternalistic position and subsequent change of heart later on. Elastigirl gets moments to shine at large while Mr. Incredible provides many moments of humor as a struggling dad who is trying to fill the roles Helen usually does. This angle of a prominent female hero is something that is lacking within the genre dominated by male heroes, and offers another point of differentiation between Incredibles 2 and bland superhero films.

Incredibles 2 is a fun family film with super hero elements. While it has faults within its villain and a deemphasis on emotion, the film is nothing short of a good time. The Parrs have a lovable ‘je ne sais quoi’ to them as they exhibit the conflicts of the every family, and the film has poignant messages of what it means to be a hero. Whether you’re young or old, Pixar has made another enjoyable film for everyone. Just not their best one.

Score: 3.5/5 Stars