Written by Whitney Dixon
With the Oscars just around the corner, now is the time to catch up on the great movies from this past year, and a list of those films would not be complete without including “Toy Story 3.”
Because of its status as a kids’ movie, many older moviegoers may have skipped out on seeing it, but the film is worth a second look. It has received Oscar nods in the categories of Animated Film, Sound Editing, Original Song, Adapted Screenplay and even Best Picture. The nominations say it all: This third installment is not just a great animated film; it’s a terrific film in general.
The film begins with Woody, Buzz and the gang longing to be played with and worrying about their future as Andy, their owner, packs for college. Through a series of classic Toy Story-esque mishaps, the toys find themselves in a donation box for Sunnyside day care. They decide, much to Woody’s chagrin, that going to the day care is the best option they have. At day care, they find themselves in a place where they will always be played with, but never outgrown. As kids grow up, new kids come in their place, saving the toys from heartbreak — and from the dump.
However, Sunnyside isn’t as sunny as it initially seems. A teddy bear named Lotso has created a dictatorship and forces the toys to stay in the toddler room, where they are mistreated by kids who are too young to play with them. The toys decide that they should return to Andy, remaining loyal to him while still being able to be together as a family. From that point, the toys embark on the adventure of returning home. Lots of surprises and obstacles pop up along the way, and the ending packs a powerful emotional punch.
Though it is a kids’ movie, “Toy Story 3” will be most appreciated by the kids who grew up with the franchise and the parents who took them to see it. By now, those of us who were kids when we saw the first movie have been through this transitional period and can relate to Andy and his mom’s trying to deal with his growing up. The entertainment lies in that we see a whole new spin on a familiar situation: Andy’s toys are dealing with their own version of empty-nest syndrome. Of course, this plays out in all sorts of fun, clever and humorous ways — if it didn’t, it wouldn’t be the classic Disney/Pixar fare we have come to know and love. However, if there wasn’t more at the heart of the matter — such as the themes of loyalty and friendship that shine through the movie so brilliantly — it wouldn’t be what we know and love about Disney/Pixar films, either.
“Toy Story 3” is a fun, insightful movie for college students. It allows us to go back to childhood, if only for a moment, to mourn the loss of those carefree days, and also to rejoice in moving on and growing up. If you are looking for a feel-good movie that will provide lots of laughs, then feel free to pick up “Toy Story 3.” But be aware that amid the laughter you might just shed a tear.
