Should You See Toy Story 4?

If you’re wondering if you should see Toy Story 4, you’re probably like me and think the series has run its course. You’re kids are probably past the age of animated movies – except for nostalgia sake – so the franchise is no longer a slam dunk for you.

That’s how I felt when I was invited to view Toy Story 4 for review. I loved the first one, am not sure I saw the second one except when the kids watched it on the DVD player and while I saw the third one, it didn’t cause me to choke up like it did the rest of the world. A bunch of stuffed animals and toys heading into the furnace just didn’t upset me because our house was swimming with toys and stuffed animals (this was before Marie Kondo). 

Should you see Toy Story 4? 

If you have little kids or grandkids they might enjoy it. By little kids I mean 7-10 year olds. Really, that’s the window for this movie and that’s generous.

Toy Story 4, like all the other Toy Story movies in the franchise, has some really creepy elements to it. In this movie it’s Gabby Gabby played perfectly by Christina Hendricks. Gabby Gabby is a vintage doll in the vein of Chatty Cathy, except her voice box was defective which caused any kids to toss her aside. She ends up in an antique store in a tourist town, hoping to win the heart of the store owner’s granddaughter. In order to do this she believes she needs a voice box that works – like the one Woody has.

Gabby Gabby has minions that are terrifying – a pack of wannabe Charlie McCarthys – who help her in her quest to attain Woody’s voice box by capturing Forky.

Ah, Forky!

Forky is a toy that comes to life when Bonnie makes him in kindergarten orientation, out of a discarded spork. I’m not sure if the writers were high when they came up with the likes of Forky, or just out of ideas for an interesting toy. Forky has a few warm moments, and couple funny moments, but really he just reminded me of how frustrated I was watching Rose get on a lifeboat and jump off the lifeboat – over and over again – in Titanic. 

Of course, the movie isn’t really about Forky, it’s about finding your purpose in life – which has been Woody’s quest the entire franchise. Along the way the movie brings back characters we haven’t seen in a while – Little Bo Peep (Annie Potts), and introduces us to several new ones – Bunny and Ducky voiced wonderfully by Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key. 

Toys Story 4 is filled with A-List actors including Betty White, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Keanu Reeves, Carl Weathers, Carl Reiner, and even Don Rickles. 

I don’t know if there will be more Toy Story movies, but this one felt like the last. If it was, it ended the series nicely and tied things up well. Of course the box office receipts will determine if there is another Toy Story Movie. 

Which brings us back to the original question – should you see Toy Story 4?

It’s a lot creepier than the first movie, but it moves along pretty fast. I didn’t check my watch more than once – which says a lot for all the kid movies I’ve seen in the last few years. It had some sweet spots, and Buzz Lightyear was as awesome as ever. 

Toy Story 4 is entertaining and it wraps up a story that began more than 20 years ago. It’s enjoyable enough, but probably too scary/creepy for really little kids. If you’ve enjoyed the last three Toy Story movies, you should see Toy Story 4.