Toy Story 4 - A Familiar Plot Doesn't Tarnish a Well-Oiled Brand

When I first heard that Pixar would once again delve into the world of Toy Story my first reaction was, why?

Toy Story 3 was the perfect culmination. It capped off the ‘Andy’ saga so beautifully and with such grace that tears were shed from the sheer awe of what had been witnessed. A kid’s film has never dealt with themes of mortality and adulthood so eloquently; it totally blew me away.

So why, nine years later, do we need ANOTHER sequel?

These were questions I kept asking myself before I had even perched my bottom in the soft cinema chair of my local Odeon. Here’s the funny thing about cinema though; as soon as you walk into the screen with your drink & popcorn, all these qualms disappear.

Don’t get me wrong, it did very much feel like old ground being retrodden. With Bonnie, Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz’ (Tim Allen), new owner heading off to kindergarten and Woody back to being an unused toy (see Toy Story 2 for similar scenario) it became apparent that many themes from the original trilogy had been rejiggled and rehashed to form a new plot. There were even more parallels to previous films in the shape of new villain, Gabby Gabby (Mad Men’s Christina Hendrick’s), who lives in an Antique Shop struggling to find a loving child due to her faulty voice box. Her inadequacies transform her into a villain-like toy, surrounded by creepy Ventriloquist dolls, who will do anything to be loved again . Gabby Gabby is essentially a less sinister take on Lotso-Huggin’-Bear from Toy Story 3.

The meaning of life has always been one of the main philosophical themes running through the Toy Story franchise. Woody is always the first to tell anyone what it truly means to be a toy and the importance of being a part of a child’s life. So, when Bonnie literally ‘makes a new friend’ it is down to Woody to show this new friend what it means to be ‘alive’.

This new friend goes by the name, Forky (Arrested Developments Tony Hale), a spork with wonky googly eyes, lolly pop stick legs and pipe-cleaner arms. Bonnie makes this ‘toy’ from components found in the trash and quickly becomes her best friend. Somehow, Forky is alive but wants nothing more than to jump into the oblivion of any trash can he can find. He has been granted the most unlikely gift of life, whether he likes it or not.

It is this quirky, nervous and unfamiliar character that prevents Toy Story 4 becoming a complete mash up of Toy Story greatest hits. Instead, this film now has its own unique and funny charm. And when Bonnie and her parents hop into a camper van to start a ‘road trip’, the story evolves into a fun adventure caper. In a matter of minutes, Forky escapes the clutches of Bonnie and finds himself in the clutches of Gabby Gabby and Woody finds himself face-to-face with reinvented ass-kicking rebel, Bo Peep (Annie Potts). This is when Toy Story 4 finds its mojo…

When Bonnie and her family set off on a road trip, Toy Story 4 comes to life.

It has been nearly a quarter of a century since the original Toy Story. Animation has come a long way since 1995 but what it achieved in Toy Story 4 was truly captivating. The visuals suggest textures that you can almost reach out and touch; and with these visuals alone I quickly time travelled to my five-year-old self and remembered the feel of those smooth plastics and soft fur of my favourite childhood toys.

The brilliant writers, and they truly are brilliant, have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to characters. And here lies the problem of introducing new (or returning) characters. The original crew (Rex, Mr Potato Head, Jessie, Hamm, Slinky Dog) barely have anything substantial to say or do.

Instead we are now introduced to even more new characters. Canada’s very own stuntman, Duke Kaboom (voiced by man of the moment Keanu Reeves), creepy doll Gabby Gabby and hilarious carnival teddys, Ducky & Bunny (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele). The new toys add comedic value and are interesting, but the child in me was screaming out for more from the characters I grew up with.

Despite this, the true heart of Toy Story 4 never failed to ooze its way into my soul. Whereas previous films in this franchise have dealt with very human emotions and themes such as separation anxiety, mortality and growing up, the fourth entry deals with what it means to be ‘alive’ and taking control of your own destiny. Something that is more abstract than human. For almost 25 years now we have been watching Toy Story but it seems as though we may finally have learnt the toys stories. Woody has spent his life believing that to be a toy you must be loved by a child, but his chance encounter with a childless Bo Peep proves otherwise.

Bo Peep becomes a star of the show as we learn about her new, childless story.

Yes, at times you cannot help but think you have been here before. Similar plots and themes jump out at you to say ‘hey! You last saw me in Toy Story 3’, but as the fourth film in a franchise it would be hard not to (unless Pixar wanted to go R rated). Sequels will always run the risk of boring some punters, but when it’s a Disney Pixar sequel, the risk is reduced somewhat.

Despite the familiar plot points; the charming, nostalgia inducing, tear-jerker machine that is Pixar have once again smashed it out the ball park. And if in ten years’ time, the folk at Pixar want another crack, I’ll be first in line for Toy Story 5.