DVD Review: Toy Story 3

I was 12 when the first Toy Story came out. As a fan of anything that Pixar touched, I instantly fell in love. The Toy Story movies have always held a dear place in my heart, so naturally this past summer I had to see Toy Story 3 in theaters.

To honor childhood memories, I went with my parents. So there I sat in the theater, with my parents on one side and another family a few seats down with a five-year-old (who reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger). As the movie played, we laughed and smiled in at all the same parts. Yet when the end came (you’ll know the scene when you see it), I was crying like I was her age, and she was staring at me wondering what was wrong. She’ll understand one day. But for me, Toy Story 3 was a completely relevant film as I had been going through my old toys to donate to different charities. In fact, everyone I know over the age of 25, that saw the film felt the same heartstrings pulled as I did. That being said, it’s one of the best sequels I’ve ever seen. It’s so common to see stories we loved butchered by unnecessary sequels whose goal is to make bank. Toy Story 3 isn’t one of those films. It has a strong script, fantastic animation, and heart.

So, what is the film about? Andy is getting ready to go to college and is cleaning out his old room. Between throwing things out, putting things in the attic, and donating other items, his most beloved toys get misplaced and end up being donated to Sunnyside Daycare. At first, it doesn’t seem so bad. The other toys at the daycare seem happy and welcoming, but as time passes, our favorite characters realize it’s not exactly what it appeared to be. At that point, the toys care about nothing but escaping, but first, they must around everyone back up. It’s not as easy as it sounds as Buzz Lightyear has been switched into Spanish mode, Barbie finds her Ken, and Woody gets separated from the crew.

Special features on the Blu-ray are plentiful. You’ll find an interactive game, many featurettes, commentary, the Day and Night short (which played before the film when it was in theaters), and so much more. We’re going to have Blu-ray as part of our FanBolt Holiday Recommendations List this year as we think it’s the perfect gift for kids, families, or even 27-year-olds like me. It’s got a little something for everyone, and that’s incredibly rare to find with any movies today.

Grade: A+
Official Website: http://disney.go.com/toystory/

Review By: Emma Loggins

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Disclaimer: FanBolt did receive a copy of Toy Story 3 to be able to conduct this review. We’ve received no additional compensation for this review. This review is our honest opinion.