Review: Toy Story 3

Review: Toy Story 3

Rating: ***1/2

Nonna's Rating: $$$$

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Having just seen Shrek Forever After with Max and both of us being mildly please, we attended a 3-D showing of Toy Story 3 and agreed it was far superior to the Shrek offering. The reviews have been somewhat hyperbolic -- probably not surprising in one of the most dismal movie summers ever -- but the film really is that good.

Andy has grown up. He's on his way to college and must make some hard decisions about what he's going to do with his old toys. From those decisions and some unintended mishaps come the plot of the film. It's much darker than the two previous movies; Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang move from one dire situation to another. There is one scene toward the end of the film which all reviewers seem to have agreed not to discuss in detail. I will also refrain from being a spoiler, but will repeat what many of them have said -- that the scene is remarkably moving and downright profound for a cartoon.

Of course, there's plenty to laugh about in this movie. Ken and Barbie alone are worth the price of admission. And Buzz has a bit of a mishap which switches him into Spanish-mode with hysterical consequences.

We saw the film in 3-D -- and I'm glad we did. My biggest problem with 3-D is that it distracts me, pulls me away from a film. If knives are coming at me, I'm no longer immersed in the story and suspending disbelief. The 3-D in this movie enhances and supports the story -- and is not distracting at all. If you see the film, I hope you also see the delightful Pixar short that preceded our viewing, Night and Day. Pixar rarely disappoints, and, in this cartoon, they use 3-D to great advantage. It's just plain innovative.

Nonna's Ratings:

$$$$ = Worth paying the Friday evening price
$$$= Worth paying the Matinee price
$$= Worth a rental
$ = Wait for cable
# = Skip it