I saw this tonight, so here are some hastily put together thoughts...
I walked into TOY STORY 4 profoundly skeptical about the necessity of this movie’s existence. The first three TOY STORY films are excellent family entertainment of the highest quality, and they form an almost perfect trilogy that had a brilliant and deeply satisfying conclusion. So from the very moment a fourth film was announced, I was unconvinced that there was anything else that could be done with these characters that wouldn’t somehow weaken the beautiful wrap-up that 3 already provided.
It is a relief, then, to find that TOY STORY 4 - while easily the weakest TOY STORY installment (for me) - is absolutely still a heartfelt and quality endeavor. It even takes some gutsy and emotionally-challenging chances with how it uses its central characters, and that’s quite refreshing and should be applauded. Most importantly, this doesn’t feel like a pure cash grab (even though it clearly is to some degree); care was taken here to deliver a real, proper TOY STORY movie. It also has weighty and complicated ideas that it wrestles with, which makes it an intellectually-fulfilling experience, not just an emotional and visceral one. Fundamentally, the story grapples with this idea of coming to grips with outliving your usefulness, which is a HUGE concept to build a family vehicle around, thematically, so credit to the filmmakers for pulling that off. Also, everything involving the story’s antagonist, Gabby Gabby, is fascinating and challenging (in a good way), and - despite my concerns that it would be redundant - new territory for these movies. The movie's also terrifically funny in ways that should be appealing to almost anybody.
It’s an imperfect movie, though, more so than any of the first three TOY STORYs. The focus here is so squarely on Woody’s journey and headspace that other characters are kind of relegated to supporting status (at least in the sense of not really having arcs of their own), which feels a little strange. And on the subject of that journey for Woody, I’m not fully sure I completely buy its trajectory and what the story has him engaged in. Personal mileage will vary, I’m sure. In fairness, the movie does do an excellent job of comparing and contrasting contrasting Woody with the varied perspectives of Bo Peep, Gabby Gabby, and Forky (who are all great here), but I question the way it’s all framed in terms of Woody’s psyche. I’m not saying it categorically doesn’t work, and it smooths out by the end, but I just don’t know how I entirely feel about it on a writing level.
But even with that taken into account, TOY STORY 4 is still very good cinematic comfort food, and it again demonstrates that when Pixar is at their best (or, in this case, at least solidly very good), they’re operating on a whole other level of quality and ambition compared to the other major animation studios.
this is a great epilogue to the series.
I think considering it an epilogue is a great way to look at this movie in the context of the wider series. The first three are the major arc, and the fourth is a smaller-scale piece designed to give just a little more closure to the characters (particularly Woody).
But that also means there better not be a fifth one. They pulled this one off, and they shouldn't push their luck any further. This is a satisfying place to let it be.