By: Kerry Liethen

Normally, I’m not a huge fan of sequels (okay, sure, I have my exceptions, well, a small handful of films) and if I do decide to indulge my curiosity it is normally a few months later and on DVD, so when I was cajoled by a couple of friends into a showing of Toy Story 3 at a cheap theater in the valley I had low expectations, really low expectations.  In fact, the bar was set so low that it was rolling around on the floor.  Needless to say, I was elated when the bar flipped up and smacked me in the head to prove how wrong I was regarding the sequel, Toy Story 3.

But I had good reasons to keep my expectations low, because I was not a big fan of Toy Story 2.  Granted, it was cute, but the script was not as finely tuned as Toy Story and it felt as though it had lost its oomph.  But with Toy Story 3 the franchise has been rejuvenated and, in my opinion, is the perfect finale for the characters of Toy Story.

The film begins when Buzz, Woody, and the gang are accidently dumped off at a day care center during Andy’s departure for college.

Toy Story 3 was directed by Lee Unkrich (co-director on Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., and Toy Story 2) with screenplay credits going to: Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich.  And the returning talent of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn, and John Ratzenberger was like a welcoming hug from an old friend.  The additional vocal talent of Michael Keaton and Ned Beatty provided a couple unexpected antagonists that I became invested in as much as the protagonists.

Also, one last note, expect to see a wonderful Pixar short before the film begins, Day & Night, which was a combination of 2D and 3D animation directed by Teddy Newton (came to Pixar in 2000).  Day & Night was the perfect compliment to Toy Story 3.  Honestly, I cannot say enough about this short it was fun, at times tender, and the message resonated with audience (the packed theatre was very vocal) and with this viewer.

Toy Story 3 was a fantastic surprise and I highly suggest checking this out in the theater.

9 out of 10 – K.L.