Toy Story 4
An inaugural fake review
I had the great pleasure to attend the World Premiere of Toy Story 4 in Los Angeles yesterday, and what I saw was nothing less than astounding, though perhaps not in the way you might anticipate. While I pride the clever folks at PIXAR for creating yet another emotional entry into their established oeuvre, if you enter the theater expecting a fun family-friendly romp, think again. This fourth entry into the twenty-four year-old Toy Story franchise is baffling.
As the company approaches their thirty-fourth year of operation, I can understand an urge to rebrand. But to make such a move with Toy Story 4 is bold to say the least. Particularly jarring was Bullseye’s thirteen-minute long hallucinatory fever dream, which some might feel goes on for too long, but I rather found incredibly deep and nuanced. Don’t be surprised to find a rogue tear rolling down your cheek as he explores deeply unresolved issues about his mother through interpretive dance.
The film also seemed to be oddly self-referential in bits, particularly when Woody starts referring to himself as “Tom” midway through the movie. “Please, call me Tom.” “It’s not Woody anymore, Buzz. My name is Tom now.” “I’m Tom. Tom Hanks, and I am a sixty-three year-old human man,” he says repeatedly. The other characters initially question it, but eventually accept it as Woody or...Tom, as it were, becomes increasingly irate as the film progresses. Hanks himself gives an Oscar-worthy vocal performance when he screams into the face of Pricklepants, “DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY CALL ME THE ROOTINEST, SHOOTINEST, COWBOY IN THE WILD WEST? BECAUSE YOU ARE DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO FINDING OUT.”
The choice to depict Bo as a paranoid schizophrenic was bold to say the least, and though I appreciate the complex discussions about mental health representation it approaches, I do not believe this arc was entirely deserved. It really tightrope-walks the line of gratuitousness, especially in the scenes of her uninterrupted, guttural screaming, one of which lasts six excruciating minutes.
One choice I can absolutely not get behind is the decision to include a particular line in one of the new original songs that’s sure to stir controversy. In the middle of the song, you can clearly hear Randy Newman sing the line, “It’s been twenty-four years of this; Why won’t someone let me die?” I can’t help but find this an inappropriate addition, especially given that this song plays immediately after a tender moment in the film in which Woody teaches newcomer Forky a valuable lesson in friendship.
The plot, I’m sorry to say, is mind-numbingly predicable. Forky, as everyone anticipated, becomes the next leader of the free world after leading the charge of the Toy Uprising. Spoiler alert here, but the film ends with all toys subjugating humans into servitude. Now whenever the slave population hears the cry “FORKY’S COMING!” they immediately stop what they’re doing and fall motionless to the ground.
Overall, Toy Story 4 opens up a fascinating dialogue about the pervasive presence of crushing self-doubt in a postmodern world, though I’m not entirely sure what moral it is specifically trying to communicate. Often the message is muddled by a plethora of winding subplots and shocking character deaths which are too spoilery to divulge here. This ain’t your daddy’s Toy Story, so strap in for a four hour and nine-minute-long emotionally turbulent rage fest. The kiddos are sure to love it!
Also, be sure to stay until after the credits. Bonnie raps about the many functions of pipe cleaners. Shockingly, it was my favorite part of the film.