Toy Story 4:

The Beloved Franchise

Breaks New Ground

By Sandra Olmsted

Usually the fourth sequel isn’t promising; however, debut director Josh Cooley takes Toy Story 4 into new territory. While expanding on the existential questions about the meaning of the toys’ “lives,” Cooley dives into deeper questions of free will, identity, and love. Just as Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) feels as though Bonnie no longer needs or loves him, he finds new meaning in teaching Bonnie’s newest toy, Forky (voice of Tony Hale), about being a favorite toy. Woody also tries to explain to Buzz (voice of Tim Allen) the concept of conscience and following one’s inner voice. Toy Story 4 also reframes the franchise’s “prime directive” regarding the bonds between children and toys.

On the first day of kindergarten, Woody makes sure Bonnie has a good day even though, or maybe because, he’s often left in the closet. While Bonnie sits alone and afraid, Woody gets her some art supplies, and Bonnie creates Forky out of a spork. Unfortunately, Forky has his own existential quest as a disposable utensil who is meant to be trashed. Can Woody convince Forky to become the sum of his parts — Bonnie’s beloved toy?

To Randy Newman’s “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” Woody takes on protecting Forky when Bonnie, her toys, and her parents embark on an RV-road trip to Grand Basin National Park. Despite Woody’s best efforts, Forky escapes to become litter along the highway, and Woody goes after him. Then, Woody spots the lamp of Little Bo Peep, his long, lost love, in the window of an antique shop near the RV Park. A flashback reveals where Bo and Woody’s love got detoured.
Unfortunately, the antique shop and toys on its shelves are ruled over by Gabby (voice of Christina Hendricks), a doll whose iron fist and desire for a voice box that isn’t defective can only mean trouble for Woody and Forky. Gabby and the other toys seem trapped in a love-less, freedom-less purgatory of the shelves and back alleys of the antique shop. Of the many allusion to other movies, the oddest is to the inherent creepiness of dolls, a la the Annabelle franchise. Although Woody narrowly escapes, the Sunset-Boulevard-esque Gabby and her ventriloquist-dummy bodyguards hold Forky hostage.

In the park near the shop, Woody encounters Bo (voice of Annie Potts), who leads a freedom-loving band of “lost toys,” like Peter Pan’s Lost Boys. Even though she plans to leave with a visiting carnival tomorrow, the empowered Bo enlists a number of lost and antique toys to help her and Woody rescue Forky, including Polly Pocket-esque Giggle McDimples (voice of Ally Maki) and Canadian action figure Duke Caboom (voice of Keanu Reeves), who didn’t live up to his advertisements. Meanwhile, Buzz, who mistakes his recorded sayings for his conscience, searches for Woody and recruits carnival prizes Ducky and Bunny (voices of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, respectively), whose fantasies of violence provide counter-point to the themes of duty, loyalty, and love.

With Pixar’s technology at his disposal, Cooley brings a new level of realism to the franchise and not just because of the advances in rendering animated images. While juggling fast-moving plot lines and existential philosophy, Cooley infuses Toy Story 4 with emotional realism worthy of several hankies. The spot-on casting and big performances also breathe life into to characters’ emotions. The plot twists and philosophic questions result in either a fitting ending to the Toy Story franchise or the beginning of a new trilogy. Toy Story 4, a Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release, is rated G and runs 100 minutes. Toy Story 4 opens in theaters Friday, June 21.

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