Toy Story 4 Parent Guide

Sometimes it’s great to be wrong. When I saw the trailer for Toy Story 4, I was afraid that Pixar was making an unnecessary sequel in pursuit of the almighty dollar. But as the movie played out across the screen, I fell under its spell. Toy Story 4 is an enchanting movie, filled with humor, pathos, charm, and gentle wisdom.

Beginning where the third film left off, Andy’s toys have all adjusted to life with Bonnie (voiced by Madeleine McGraw) – except for Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks). No longer the favorite toy, Woody is often left in the closet to gather dust. But when an apprehensive Bonnie has to go to kindergarten orientation, Woody sees a role for himself and hides in her backpack. He’s instrumental in helping Bonnie on her first day at school and she comes home proudly carrying Forky, a spork she has turned into a toy.

The introduction of Forky, hilariously voiced by Tony Hale, is where this movie takes off. The best family films operate on two levels – a simple story for kids and subtler jokes or deeper themes aimed at older viewers. Ostensibly, Forky’s story is about a confused craft project who doesn’t realize he’s a toy: he’s convinced he’s trash because he was made from trash. His unremitting efforts to dive into every garbage can he sees are a source of great hilarity for young viewers. However, underneath Forky’s comic misadventures lies an existential angst that will keep older viewers engaged. What makes someone or something alive? Where does our perceived value originate? How do we determine the purpose of our lives? Big questions for a kid’s movie…

And the filmmakers tackle other weighty topics as well. Characters struggle to adapt to change and even to embrace it. They feel lonely, inadequate, lost, useless, or even defective and learn to alter the way they see themselves, their goals, and each other. They co-operate, share, and sacrifice for one another. Even the story’s villain is given a depth and, dare I say, a humanity not usually seen in lighthearted family fare.

The messages in this film sound heavy enough to weigh it down, but they don’t. Toy Story 4 rides high on a tide of laughter, buoyed up by comic action sequences, plenty of funny dialogue, and the usual collection of oddball characters. Buzz Lightyear, still voiced by the inimitable Tim Allen, decides that the buttons on his chest that provide pre-recorded phrases are the source of his “inner voice” and decides to follow whatever directions they provide – with predictably hilarious results. And the story introduces a new character, Canadian stunt rider Duke Kaboom, voiced by Keanu Reeves. “Yes I CANada!” is the Duke’s motto as he performs death-defying feats on his motorcycle. (Canadian audiences will be particularly amused by the Duke’s moves – one of which bears an uncanny resemblance to a famous yoga pose performed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.)

Best of all, the strong positive messages and wonderful comic scenes come with little negative content, aside from some moments of peril and minor violent content which are necessary to drive the plot. Only the most sensitive youngsters are likely to find anything upsetting in this outstanding film. All other moviegoers will marvel at how a motley collection of animated toys manage to climb out of their toybox and into their hearts.