REVIEW: 'Toy Story 3' Is a Masterpiece

The miracle of “Toy Story 3” is not that Pixar has done it again and created yet another animated masterpiece (they’ve spoiled us, we now expect this). It’s that 15 years after the original and 10 years after the first sequel, number three manages to somehow surpass what we all thought were unsurpassable predecessors. After all, how do you improve on perfection? But brimming with more imagination than any ten films put together, the continuing saga of Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and company, somehow does improve on perfection with an enchanting, heartfelt and exciting adventure that casts a spell from the opening Old West fantasy sequence, straight through to a memorable set of end-credits.

Andy, the boy who owns this now iconic set of toys, is all grown up. 17 and leaving for college, Andy has to decide what to do with the playthings of his childhood. Built to be loved and played with and already feeling neglected by an owner whose outgrown them, a series of simple and not-so-simple mix ups lands the increasingly neurotic and insecure contents of Andy’s toy box at a daycare center that at first glance appears to be a kind of Toy Heaven — a never-ending supply of children who will forever love and play with them.

But is it all too good to be true?

What gives this refreshingly simple, perfectly paced, and absolutely flawless story the kind of emotional depth that creeps up and catches you off guard, is a richly complicated theme that explores the struggle between the loyalty and faith required to slug ones way through the ups and downs of any relationship and the universal need and understandable desire for constant validation and affection. The toys feel, for lack of a better term, jilted. Andy’s moved on, grown a little bored with them, and now they live in that awful in-between world filled with the artificial highs that come with any sign things might go back to the way they were and the unavoidable lows that are a natural part of the insecurity that comes with the fear of being discarded.

Essentially, “Toy Story 3” is about the consequences of disloyalty, of losing faith and giving up on an imperfect relationship to go off in search of something better. But what consequences! Through an immersion into wondrous detail that boggles the mind and Pixar’s uncanny ability to effortlessly and fully exploit any concept – in this case, a world where toys come to life when humans aren’t around – the adventure and, yes, the humanity makes for the best time you’ll have at the movies since, well, Pixar’s last go-round, “Up.”

And your kids will enjoy themselves even more. The action set-pieces rival the best of the Indiana Jones’ films and this is easily the funniest of the three thanks to a cast of well-rounded characters whose relationships continue to develop realistically and with honest warmth and clever humor.

The only thing better than the film itself is the voice work courtesy of a perfectly cast group of actors. Once again, Tom Hanks is marvelous voicing Woody, a character we’ve seen grow into the brave conscience and leader of his toy tribe. But it’s Tim Allen’s Buzz who steals the last half of the show with a comic performance that had everyone at my screening practically rolling on the floor.

Though Bo, Etch, and Wheezy don’t return, not only is everyone else on hand, but each is given a number of individual moments to shine. John Ratzenberger (Pixar’s good luck charm who has appeared in every one of their films) lets loose with some terrific one-liners as Hamm – as does Wallace Shawn as Rex, Joan Cusack is as spirited as ever as cowgirl Jesse, and Estelle Harris and Don Rickles as Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head are both used in the most creative ways imaginable. All the newcomers fit right in, as well, especially Michael Keaton’s hilariously insecure Ken and an absolutely terrific Ned Beatty as Lotso, a stuffed bear who smells of strawberries and is never what he appears to be.

I’m an old guy and therefore not a big fan of 3D, but other than those heavy glasses, this latest gimmick — which needs to go the way of the shaky-cam — doesn’t interfere (or enhance, in my opinion) the story in the least. Obviously the technology available to Pixar these days has grown by leaps and bounds since the first “Toy Story,” but the trilogy remains visually seamless (I watched all three the same day — I know, tough job, right?) thanks to a flawless production design.

So go! And then go again. This has been a brutal decade year for movie-lovers and once again Pixar delivers the perfect oasis.