Growing up watching Pixar films, it was impossible for me not to watch the newly released Toy Story in cinemas. I expected nothing but entertainment and, as always, Disney did not disappoint. It was 100 minutes of pure excitement- enough to release your inner child and bring back the memories of seeing the third (and supposedly final) Toy Story film, which was released 9 years ago. Who knew that over 20 years after the release of the original Toy Story (1995) the cinema would still be packed?
The cinema was completely full, but not just with kids- the majority of the audience were teenagers and adults, which isn’t that surprising when considering these are the people who grew up with Buzz and Woody all those years ago. It’s difficult not to get too emotionally attached to characters from childhood, which made watching this film extremely emotionally straining during the heart-breaking scenes it has to offer. This is especially apparent through the feature of the song ‘You’ve Got A Friend In Me’ which really tugs on your heartstrings. How is it that a song in a Disney film could make you want to cry so hard that everyone in the cinema stares, all within the first 15 minutes?
The final film in the series follows the adventurous crew of Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of Andy’s toys as they aim to keep Bonnie happy by saving her recently created toy, Forky. Overall, the plot of the film is entertaining and enjoyable to watch, littering the characters with puzzles to fix and problems to solve. However, this film also brings back the beloved character of Bo Peep, having been given away earlier in the film series. Toy Story 4 features a heart-breaking reunion of Woody and Bo guaranteed to make you weep, but only one thing could have made it better: making Bo’s return a surprise. Pixar advertised the returned character throughout all trailers and posters released, but, although it would be hard advertising the film without any mention of the character and her role in the plot, it would have proven to be a surprising and special moment for those who had grown up watching the films. Apart from the lack of surprise for Bo’s return, Buzz and Woody’s friendship strengthens throughout, just like it has in all previous films. The film is funny, crazy and a little heart-warming at times- what’s not to love? Overall, Toy Story 4 has proven to be one of my favourite and most emotional films this year, which really is an end of an era. So, if you haven’t seen it yet, I suggest you go to the cinema and watch it (as long as you’re prepared to cry) as you’re only one cinema ticket away from bringing back the memories from childhood.