Toy Story 4 review

Toy Story 4 was a highly anticipated, and upon release, it did not fail to live up to its expectations. The film did exceptionally well at the box office.

This post does have spoilers so if you only want a brief synopsis about the plot then see our post about the build-up to the film,

If you do not want to read any spoilers, please DO NOT read on.

 

The film starts with a little re-cap on events so far. As seen in the trailer, the character Bo Peep makes a reappearance. The re-cap shows how Bo Peep exited Andy’s family home, which was within the timeline between Toy story 2 and 3. Bo Peep had been given to Andy’s sister Molly, and that Bo Peep had helped her get through a time where she was afraid of the dark, but became a forgotten toy. At the end of the recap, the toys were participation in a rescue attempt of the beloved character RC. Upon success, after Bo Peep stepped in with assistance, she is bundled into a box by Andy’s Mother who then given the box to an anonymous man.

The man takes the box outside and places it underneath his car to shelter it from the rain, while he goes back into the house to retrieve something he had forgotten. During this time Woody dashes to get to the box to save Bo Peep who knocks him back not wanting to be saved but makes a comment about toys being lost all the time in an attempt to intice woody to join her. Woody refuses but does seem to ponder on the offer until Andy calls his name from a distance.

 

The film that goes back to the present time showing all the main characters including the newer ones introduced in Toy Story 3 in the cupboard which have been put there by the mother of their new owner Bonnie. Upon the arrival of Bonnie, she opens the wardrobe with excitement and pulls her toys out to play with them but leaves a select few toys behind one of them being Woody.

The scene progresses and reveals the Bonnie is soon to be starting kindergarten. It’s explained that Bonnie would be attending a settling-in day.

Bonnie expresses that she would like to take a toy with her, but her father explains that she is not to take a toy and toys are not allowed kindergarten. They exit the bedroom and Woody expresses his concerns about Bonnie not going to kindergarten without a toy. Dolly, who is the new leader of the toys, tells Woody that a toy cannot go as per the father’s statement.

Woody sneaks into Bonnie’s bag to attend kindergarten with her.

Upon arrival kindergarten, it is clear that Bonnie is not enjoying her time and appears to be a little bit of an outcast. Woody helps her by sneaking around the room and providing you with some art and craft materials. She soon creates a character forky.

At the end of the settling day, Bonnie puts Forky into the bag along with Woody. Woody talks to forking as an inanimate object, but it quickly comes to life.

Upon arrival, back at Bonnie’s house, Woody introduces Forky the group, and he expresses that Forky is the essential toy to Bonnie at this moment in time.

As Bonnie yet has a week until she starts kindergarten, her father explained that they would be going on a road trip before she begins school.

Forky who is struggling to deal with his existence as a toy rather than trash, keeps trying to throw himself away. Woody creates a job in trying to stop Forky from completing this task.

On the road trip, Forky eventually succeeds through himself out the window of the RV; Woody also jumps out to recover him.

These first scenes paint the picture of the underlying tone of the movie, which is about the purpose of toys and objects and one of fulfilment.

Woody and Forky come across an old antique store wherein the window Woody notices a lamp that was associated with the character Bo-Peep.

The toys enter in an attempt to find Bo.

In the old antique store, we are next introduced the antagonist Gabby Gabby and her scary minions the Bensons. Gabby captures Forky and uses him to try and extort Woody into giving her his voice box. It is later explained that Gabby’s voicebox was broken before being unboxed, and therefore she has never had a child to play with turning her from a villain into a loveable character that you cannot help but feel sympathy.

Woody makes his escape without Forky and this is when he reunites with Bo Peep. Bo Peep and Woody head off to save Forky from Gabby Gabby and the dreaded Bensons.

Back at the RV Buzz leaves the group to start his own mission to help Woody and Forky back to the RV.

The two separate storylines for Buzz and Woody meet up towards the end after introductions to some hilarious new characters such as Ducky, Bunny and Duke Caboom.

I won’t go into how the story just in case some of you have ignored the warnings for spoilers, all I will say is that your emotions will be everywhere. A beautiful end to the 4th instalment of the Toy Story franchise.

The whole movie is full of very funny quips, and even some jumpy scenes, but you are eyes are glued to the screen for the full 1 hour 40 mins.

 

Overall the movie has to receive a very well deserved 5/5.