I don’t mean to be a pessimist here, but rather a skeptic because I do not want people to get let down if this sequel is not to the same level of the previous films.
Most entertainment news sites have had nothing but positive things to say about this film so far but I can’t help but think there might be issues present.
Don’t get me wrong this trailer is beautifully done and I’m very excited. I saw this first when I viewed the double feature of Toy Story 1/2. I got goose bumps seeing young Andy on screen again. It was cool to see his home movies because he was one of us when the first film came out, a kid. Andy grows up in the movies and finally we see Andy heading off to college deciding what to do with his old toys including his pals Woody and Buzz.
From there it’s not apparent what happens but the toys end up in a daycare center and go through all sorts of torture. Buzz is nearly swallowed by a young child and Potato Head and the Mrs. look like amputees when the kids are finished with them. It’s a very funny scene and it looks fantastic on screen, there is a lot of color to it, which will be perfect in 3D.
The toys decide to break out from the daycare center. Buzz attempts his daring escape similar to the way he first flew in Toy Story and suffers the equivalent to a concussion for a toy. The others have to reset Buzz and accidentally reset the space ranger to a Spanish setting. Not only does Buzz think he is Spanish and suave but he’s back to believing he’s a space ranger.
Hamm said it best, “Oh yes, return of the astronut.”
Okay I have literally no comments about the first minute and forty five seconds. The home movies are brilliant and very sentimental which is fitting because of how these characters make people feel. The story of Andy going to college is not too cheesy and provides a good conflict to keep the plot moving as far as I can tell.
However, once we hit that mark of 1:45, the plot seems very similar to the past Story’s. The idea of busting out has been a subplot that has been done to death in the Toy Story franchise. Woody and Buzz had to bust out of Sid’s house, Woody had to get out of Al’s apartment and now they’re busting out again with the slogan: No Toy Gets Left Behind. It all seems very similar. Now you can take this as a positive and say “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” but I say that Pixar has way more originality than exploring the simple escape plot.
The other issue, which I see as recycling of the past is the Spanish Buzz subplot. Have we not already explored Buzz enough? There are so many other fascinating characters that haven’t been fully explored and should be. However, Pixar takes the easy way out by going back to Buzz being a bit cuckoo like when he first arrived. It was done in Toy Story with Woody and his constant bickering over whether or not he was a toy or a space ranger. Then, we saw it in Toy Story 2 where he literally had to battle his old self as a wannabe space ranger.
I would not be surprised to see a gimmick where Woody and Buzz act out that iconic scene in which Woody tells Buzz he is a toy and Buzz answer back in Spanish with, “And you are a sad, strange little man, you have my pity.” Will I laugh? Heck yes! That’s funny stuff but I’ll feel cheated after all these years because Pixar couldn’t come up with a plot not involving Buzz so centrally.
What gives me faith in this movie using more than these overused ideas is the fact that there have been a lot of new characters cast in recent months that could be a huge part in the film. However, I think it’s more than likely they’re all in the daycare scene and that’s their only part in the adventure. Either way I promise you readers that I am very excited for this film and I’m so glad they released such an early trailer but I can’t help but be skeptical on the plot thus far.
In quick casting news Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords) will be voicing a character in the new film and Blake Clark will be taking on the Slinky Dog voice which was originally done by Jim Varney but Varney died shortly after the release of Toy Story 2.
Finally for all of those still wanting to see Toy Story1/2 one final time on the big screen. The double feature will be in release for another 2 weeks until it is replaced by the release of The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D.
Toy Story 3 will be released on June 18, 2010 and The Nightmare Before Christmas has been re-released in 3D in select cities.
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