Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong
Historically speaking, TOY STORY 4 shouldn’t work. With the exception of Marvel movies, the fourth Feature film following a successful Trilogy is usually involves a rehashing of ideas. This is SO not the case this time around. I will even venture to predict that TOY STORY 4 will be the highest grossing movie in the storied Franchise.
With lightning bolt precision and spectacular Animation, we see all the toys we know and love and there is even a cameo of Andy, their original owner. Not only is their new owner, a very young Bonnie more concerned about starting kindergarten than playing with her toys who are feeling sad and abandoned, we sense romantic feelings between Woody (Tom Hanks) and Little Bo Peep (Annie Potts). During her school orientation day, the shy and insecure Bonnie digs into a trash can and creates Forky.
I must stop here for a second to say that I unequivocally love Forky. Essentially, he is a plastic fork with mismatched, googly eyes, pipe cleaner arms and playdough lips. As voiced by Tony Hale, with energy, panache and comic gold timing, Forky has now become one of my favourite Disney characters. Bonnie becomes as obsessed and I get why!
On a family road trip to a small western town where, not only is there a carnival going on but there is a huge antiques store filled to the brim with discarded goods hoping to find new owners, Woody hides in Bonnie’s backpack to go on the trip. From here on end, TOY STORY 4 captivates and charms. Not only does Woody reunite with Bo Peep, Forky gets lost and we meet new characters. Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) is a doll with a defective voice box who hangs with Bunny and Duckie (Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael Key). There is also a frightening team of dolls – think of them a cross between Chuckie and Howdy Doody – that are at Gabby’s beck and call. Bo Peep also has new friend: Duke Caboom (Canada’s Greatest Stuntman), voiced brilliantly by Toronto’s own Keanu Reeves. From here, TOY STORY 4 becomes an illuminating experience, filled with numerous chase scenes and close calls, witty banter between Woody and Bo Peep, heart wrenching back stories and museum quality animation. In fact, the only tiny blip that in TOY STORY 4 is Randy Newman’s score and songs. They lack the inspiration a Film this great deserves.
I approached seeing this Movie with trepidation. Would it stand up to the previous movies and did we really need to see a fourth one? Not only did I love TOY STORY 5, to infinity and beyond!
Walt Disney Studios Canada release TOY STORY 4 Friday, June 21, 2019.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com