Toy Story 3

            Who would have thought that 16 years ago, an up and coming animation company would be the brains behind a movie about talking toys that we would all still be talking about to this day. Well the bright people over at Disney seemed to think so and as soon as the original Toy Story hit theaters back in 1995 it became an instant classic and let the whole world know who the little animation studio Pixar was. Flash forward 16 years and we're here to discuss Toy Story 3, the obvious third film in the franchise about the lovable talking toys owned by a boy named Andy.
              In the third installment we find Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), and the rest of the toys at a bit of a crossroads. Their owner Andy is not a kid anymore. In fact, he's about to head off to college, so needless to say the toys haven't been played with for awhile. Some toys are gone, but the core group remain together but now find themselves stuck in a trunk facing being thrown in the attic or donated.
              Through a series of unfortunate circumstances the toys find themselves being donated to a local daycare, where from first look seems like a heaven for the toys. Daycare seems like an endless place of children to play with them and somewhere they can all find a place to fit in. Not everything is what it seems however, and daycare isn't any different. The toys find themselves in a situation they didn't ask for and without their fearless leader Woody, as he's determined to get back to Andy. It's soon left up to Woody to rescue his friends from the daycare and try to get back to Andy before he leaves for college.
              Toy Story 3 brings all of the hilarity and realness of its characters that we've come to love from them over the years. Pixar does not disappoint as their plot is once again sharp and clever and knows how to bring those genuine human moments to life even in animation. The idea of change and knowing it's time to grow up are moments we've all had or will face in our lives. There is no question why this movie was nominated for Best Picture at this year's Oscars, or why it won for Best Animated Feature.
              If it's not broke then don't fix it is the old saying and Pixar agrees as all of the usual people are back voicing their characters; Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack (Jessie), but their are also a few new voices. Michael Keaton voices Ken, Barbie's other half and Ned Beatty (Shooter) voices Lotso the plush bear that runs the daycare. Even Randy Newman is back to compose the soundtrack which he won an Oscar for in the Best Song category.
              I give this movie 4 stars out of 4 and a thumbs up. If you somehow have not seen this film in the last year then I highly recommend you do so now. I can safely say you will not be disappointed. The movie will make you happy, sad, laugh, and maybe even get you to cry. It even got a couple tears out of me. So go to Redbox or stream it instantly on Netflix and if you've already seen it, then hey, see it again.