Toy Story 4 – IGN

By Laura Prudom

From the start, Toy Story 4 seemed like a terrible idea. After the sublime mailing that the third film gave Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang, the idea of ​​revising the franchise nearly ten years after this final would please the crowd and made him think of a seizure of Money cynical, risking tarnishing the legacy of a virtually perfect trilogy. There were delays in production, changes in release dates, and "creative and philosophical differences" that pushed the film's writers to leave the project – all red flags glaring enough.

Yet, despite the difficulties, Toy Story 4 is just as magical as its predecessors. It tells a story even more appealing and emotional than the first two movies of the franchise, even if it is on the edge of Toy Story's vertigo. 3. It is miraculous that Pixar was able to navigate successfully in such a narrative minefield after the cathartic closing of the last film, but Toy Story 4 is full of the same joy, wonder and fantasy that all the others . Toy Story slice.

It's also the funniest film in the franchise, with an emphasis on physical comedy driven by new characters such as Keanu Reeves' stuntman Duke Caboom and Keegan-Michael Key and Duck and Bunny by Jordan Peele. But the hilarious moments of Toy Story 4 are courtesy of Tony Hale's Forky, a neurotic spork that has somehow gained in sensitivity after being created by Bonnie in kindergarten. Seeing a shy utensil struggling with the confusing realities of its unlikely existence is a delight, but there is also something quite moving about a character convinced of his own ability, hitting a note very different from that of the villain Lotso in Toy Story 3.

Yes, there is a good chance that Toy Story 4 will make you cry – if Tim Allen could not get through, what hope do we have? While the latest movie saw our heroes become aware of their own mortality, Toy Story 4 strives to get something as important: self-realization. After years of existence just for the pleasure of their owners, we begin to see what happens when our heroes begin to think about their true purpose and to venture beyond the roles that have been theirs. awarded. Whether it strikes you as hard as Toy Story 3 probably depends on your situation in life, and the emphasis on humor may not be suitable for everyone (this largely depends on your appreciation Key and Peele's comic style) – but at our press conference, there was not a dry eye in the house.

If the first three films explore the growth difficulties that separate growth and growth from one another, Toy Story 4 tries to see things from a more adult perspective. Woody has always been a father figure for other toys (and probably also for Andy, given his absent father), and here he is an empty nest par excellence – Andy went to college, but his trusty toy has been bad to move on, despite the new status quo at Bonnie's. The lone cowboy is always determined to make his newborn feel happy and supported, but the arrival of Forky triggers a journey both geographical and psychological for Woody and Buzz.

With Woody, it comes from his lost love, Bo Peep, who unexpectedly crosses while looking for Forky. Bo has been alone for a while and seems to have prospered, but his independence compels Woody to face his fear of becoming a lost toy, which has motivated him since the first film. Buzz, meanwhile, became complacent in his new routine, and when Woody disappears again, he is forced to take charge and take charge, but suspects his own instincts. It's a bit of a regression for him after the way he went to help Woody in Toy Story 2, but it's also an encouraging change of pace to see the confident forest ranger fighting with his own insecurities to become a leader, personified by a hilarious gag that we will not spoil here.

If Toy Story 4 presents a gap – especially if it's really the last chapter – it's because the plot spends much more time with the new characters than the rest of the original gang. Toy Story 3 has been so successful in involving Jessie, Slinky Dog, Rex, Hamm and Potato Heads in action, you can not miss them here, even though the new additions are as charming as the old keep. Obviously, the creative team was trying to avoid hitting the same rhythms as the last film, which is understandable, but it gives a very different tone, less centered on family dynamics than on the link between Woody and Buzz.

Nevertheless, it works precisely because previous films have laid a solid foundation on this makeshift family, which means we can feel the love and loyalty that drives our heroes to find each other. And introducing toys that have lived outside the safety of a child's room, we discover new aspects of Woody and Buzz, which is certainly thrilling after 25 years with these characters. Tom Hanks' performance reveals a subtle lassitude that reflects all that Woody has gone through in decades, a sign that this old gunslinger has seen and lost too much. This gravitas helps to anchor the story, especially when it unfolds in front of the wide-eyed naïve Forky.

Toy Story movies have always been at the forefront of animation, so it's no surprise that the fourth installment is spectacular, but Pixar is so talented in his work that it's easy to take these technical skills for granted. From the texture of the dust marks in the antique shop to the precise patina of Bo porcelain, Toy Story 4 is a visual wonderland filled with subtle nuances and fond reminders of previous Pixar films, which will reward no doubt the reruns.

Although this is the second entry of the franchise in 100 minutes, under the confident direction of Josh Cooley (who debuted in feature film here), Toy Story 4 is a fast paced adventure that never lingers nor stumbles, even throwing us narrative bullets. Avengers: Endgame may not have the same level of secrecy as this one, but it's still a movie you should try to see before getting spoiled, especially if you love these characters as much as Andy does.