The Toys Are Back In Town

Like Andy Davis, the fictional owner of Woody the Cowboy, Buzz Lightyear and the other toys featured in the Toy Story movie franchise, I left home at at age 17 to go to college. Behind, were stacks of baseball cards, balls, and toys that I never even thought of again. That's the premise for the third Toy Story. Andy is given an edict from his mom; go through his toy box, either put stuff in the attic he wants to keep, box up stuff to go to college, or throw it away. The usual characters - Woody, Buzz, Hamm, Slinky Dog, Rex, Jess, Bullseye, Mr. and Mrs Potato Head, Barbie, Sarge and his army men fret their fate. Andy puts Woody in the college box, throws the rest in a garbage bag for the attic, gets distracted by his younger sister Molly, and his mom accidently throws the garbage bag to the curb for pick up. The adventure starts. Toy Story1 and 2 were about the process of growing up, moving on and love between friends. 3 is the same motif but even more deep with emotion and story. Lotso the Bear(voiced by Ned Beatty), Ken Doll (voiced by Micheal Keaton), and Big Baby are better villains than Toy Story 2's Pete. Tehre's some cute, pop culture referencing interplay between Ken and Barbie that adults will get. Most of all the movie is touching, not preachy and fun, not cheesy. Well done third chapter of a terrific film series.

I would be remiss if I didn't include the views of my five year old daughter, aka the Goose, and my six year old daughter, aka the Bug. It was Goose's first ever time in the theatre. Other than a bad experience with the popcorn taht left her with a rough afternoon, she loved the picture. Her quote: "the popcorn made me sick, I liked Jessie the cowgirl best, I would see it again." Bug was more effusive. She's a huge fan of the first two Toy Storys, Her review: "Woody and Buzz have never been better. Lotso and Ken are good villains. I can't wait to take mommy and Tay (her older sister) to see it again!"