Few things in life have the power to induce a wave of nostalgia that overwhelms without warning. The first few chords of 'You Got A Friend In Me' seem to do it every time.
The third in the Toy Story trilogy has been a long time coming, fifteen years have passed since Toy Story first appeared in cinemas. 1995. Even as a young teenager, I remember feeling the unmistakable yearning for those Halcyon days, playtime without a care in the world.
Now, cinema goers have been reported leaving screenings in tears, and it’s clear that a feeling of nostalgia for the film franchise itself will affect every generation.
The generation beneath mine may have cherished Toy Story merchandise and will now be coming-of-age themselves, and without a doubt, youngsters today will still be thrilled by the first time Buzz Lightyear utters the words “To Infinity and Beyond!” or those little green aliens gasp in wonder at “The Claw!”
Pixar never fail to astound with the thought and attention to detail not only in the animation, which, in 3D is nothing short of breathtaking, but sprinkles of satire, high drama and the deeply emotional journey each character undergoes draws you into their familiar world.
Woody, Buzz Lightyear and co. are revisited, lying forgotten in 17-year-old Andy’s toy box, desperate for their once caring owner to even glance at them. Andy is set to depart for college, and the time has come for him to clear out his room.
With a heavy heart, Andy decides to take Woody and bundles all the other toys into a bin bag for the attic. But, surprise surprise, it gets mistaken for rubbish and the toys end up being donated to Sunnyside Daycare Centre.
Daycare, Woody warns, is the very definition of Hell and insists the toys find their way home. Defiant and hurt at being thrown into the garbage, the other toys urge Woody to move on – stay at the Daycare centre. Toys are played with all day long. But the residents at Sunnyside Daycare are not all they seem, and cast off toys are not always treated with the care they deserve.
Welcomed into the centre by kindly old strawberry-scented ‘Lotso Hugging Bear’, the toys soon discover the true stench of injustice that permeates the halls when the humans go home.
Desperate to escape the dictatorship Lotso rules, the toys plot a prison break as they race against the clock – Andy is leaving for college the next morning.
As you might expect, the Toy Story trilogy could not be rounded off with anything but a happy ending, but this tale keeps you guessing right until the end.
Tears were not streaming from every face in the cinema, but as the final credits played out not a single person left their seat until the animation came to a close.
The longevity of the Toy Story films, and Pixar productions in general, is testament to their ability to treat children as adults, and adults as big kids. Whatever your age, they can tickle your funny bone and tug on your heart strings, and it’s done with awe-inspiring ingenuity.
9/10 Thank you, Pixar.
To book tickets please visit www.odeon.co.uk
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