Toy Story 4; Was is Worth It? (Warning: Possible Spoilers Included)
Nine years after the final story of Andy was concluded, Toy Story 4 hit the theaters. As expected, it was another blockbuster. But was it necessary to have the sequel?
Toy Story 3 couldn’t be a more perfect ending for Andy and the Toys. The adventures of Woody,Buzz, Jessie,Potato Head among others were exciting to watch. We saw how Andy grew and we witnessed the changes he had to go through, while his toys constantly accompanied him all throughout his journey. The movie, particularly the third installment, left children and even dads with a broken heart. It was a bittersweet parting of childhood and adulthood; of youth and reality. Viewers could relate the heartbreaking moment of letting a part of your life go and will ever be brought back. Some were able to hold back their tears , others secretly wiped their cheeks while the credits were being shown on the screen.
And yet here comes a sequel, a fourth installment almost a decade after. What could be there to look forward to?
We rushed to the theater on the second day it was shown. In order to understand and appreciate it fully, I asked the kids to binge watch the first 3 installments again. They had watched it before but showed little interest in the movies until I told them we’re going to watch a new one on the big screen. They gladly obliged and watched the films again. Their interest was rekindled!
Was the movie okay to watch without kids in tow? I mean, it’s rated G and was supposed to be kid-friendly. The answer is Yes. For spectators who have seen the movies from first to last, we practically grew up together along with Andy. Some may even have similar toys found in the movie.
We waited in line for tickets. It didn’t take long to purchase five tickets but the theaters were relatively packed. Most groups had at least one kid with them but there were also couples who seemed to be in their young adulthood, probably kids when the previous movie was shown.
As the movie started playing, my kids squealed in delight as they saw Woody and Jessie among other familiar toys on the screen. And then the story progressed. A bolder Bo Peep reappeared with a more practical wardrobe as compared to her ‘lady’s dress”. Buzz has Woody’s back once again. The kids smiled a lot, laughed a lot of times, a bit nervous and scared of the new toys, laughed some more with Woody’s clumsiness, understood Forky’s existence.
And then, I saw my youngest wipe her eyes. I asked why and she said she’s sad and sorry for the character. But in the end, I saw that big smile back, but with a tinge of sadness still.We went out of the theater and the kids were still asking, “Now he doesn’t have one. Will he be okay?”.
The movie succeeded to bring back memories; of joy and sadness, of childhood and innocence. It’s a total nostalgia.
The story didn’t revolve around Andy and other familiar characters.The approach was totally different. It can be said that watching the first 3 movies can complete the emotional appeal but the movie, relatively, can be a stand alone, or a precursor for another sequel if it must be said. The whole new set of characters created a great synergy and developed a story independent to the previous ones. While the characters alongside Woody and Buzz weren’t on the spotlight anymore, a major character’s come back made a big difference; Bo Peep. And it added a new element; fear and sympathy for a new characters. A kid may not readily tell whether the character is good or bad. It also stirs curiosity as to whether the decisions made were right or wrong but it gives a lingering feeling of sadness and relief at the same time.
The story depicted an important concept; what’s the real purpose of toys? What happens after a child has outgrown the need to play with them? So was it worth the wait? Yes, definitely!
Hint: The movie poster itself tells a lot.d
Vocabulary
blockbuster(n): a book or film that is very good or successful
binge(v): to do to much of something, such as eating or drinking, in a short period of time
rekindle(v): to make someone have a particular feeling, thought etc again
in tow: following closely behind someone or something
squeal(v): to make a long loud high sound or cry
tinge(n): a very small amount of a color emotion or quality
precursor(n): something that happened or existed before something else and influenced its development
depict(v): to describe something or someone in wring or speech or to show them in a painting, picture ect.
