Toy Story 3 (2010) Dir: Lee Unkrich

The best of the Toy Story movies and, it must be said, one of the best third parts in any movie franchise, with the movies getting stronger as the series progressed.
The plot:
Andy's all grown up now, 17, and heading off to college. His mom instructs him to sort out his room before he leaves, take what he wants with him, store what he wants to keep in the attic and junk the rest. Intending to keep Woody with him, and store all the other toys, his mother misunderstands and mistakenly sends the bag with the toys out for the bin men to collect.
So begins a rollercoaster ride as Woody tracks them down and tries to convince them to return home. Along the way, they'll be imprisoned, be menaced by a giant baby-thing and a large purple bear, and slide inexorably towards a fiery pit of death.
With lashings of humour, this is multi-layered to the point that it is almost like two films are playing at once; one for the growed ups, and one for the kids.
The sentimental stuff is dealt with wonderfully well - at no point is the bile gland ever activated.
With some genuinely heart-plucking moments, an ending so riven with pathos, seriously, if you aren't touched you have no fucking soul, and a really fantastic cameo from Studio Gibli's Totoro, John Lasseter paying due deference to Miyazaki, as well he should.
Don't be put off by the thought that these are kids films.
They are that, but much more besides.
Loved this.

5 out of 5

Toy Story 2 (1999) Dir: John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, Lee Unkrich

Four years in the making, this sequel to 1995's Toy Story is a more mature, more ambitious affair.
The plot:
A toy collector steals Woody from a yard sale, knowing something that Andy and his mom clearly do not: the cowboy toy is actually valuable, being the only piece missing from his collection associated to an old TV show and, with Woody now procured, he is set to make a mint.
But Andy's toys are having none of it, and set off on a quest to rescue their friend from the thieving collector's clutches.
With more thrills and spills than the original, and the blessed relief of only one fucking song, this seems altogether more accomplished.
Laugh out loud funny at times, even for adults, the creators chuck plenty of entertainment at the screen, including some knowing nods for movie buffs, my personal favourite being the Jurassic Park reference as Rex chases the toy car.
With a great plot, a cast of characters you can't help but like and an excellent script, this can't help but entertain.

4 out of 5

Toy Story (1995) Dir: John Lasseter

Pixar's breakthrough smash hit is a sentimental, though reasonably engaging affair.
The plot:
Woody is a toy cowboy whose owner, Andy, receives a birthday gift of Buzz Lightyear, a swanky, confident spaceman, with wings, a laser beam and communications systems.
Understandably, Woody is concerned that, with Lightyear in the picture, he will be cast aside with all the other unwanted toys.
And it is really enjoyable.
Pixar somehow manage to walk that line between sentimental cosiness and puke inducing saccharine, always staying just this side of acceptable, their movies feeling warm and lovely rather than racking you with stomach cramps.
Even the presence on lead voice of Tom 'despicable entity' Hanks can't ruin this one.
Not perfect - the songs are a little hard to take - this is nevertheless a confident, engaging introduction to the creative powerhouse that Pixar would swiftly become.

3 out of 5