Toy Story - Review

“You got a friend in me” – A review of Toy Story. 

I was an imaginative child, and I loved my toys. I had action figures, dolls, little green soldiers and countless random plastic figures I’d find at boot fairs and in charity shops. Every night when I went to bed, I would squint through the darkness to see if my toys had come to life and were scampering off on an adventure – and that’s all because of Toy Story.

Toy Story is mainly set in a child named Andy’s bedroom. Every time Andy leaves the room the toys come to life but drop the second he reappears. Andy has a favourite toy – Woody, a cowboy doll which says catchphrases when a string is pulled, and Woody loves Andy just as much as Andy loves him.

On Andy’s birthday, however, everything changes; he receives an exciting new toy in the form of Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger who doesn’t actually realise he’s a toy and not an intergalactic hero. Woody becomes deeply jealous of Buzz, and eventually his jealousy leads to a terrible mistake – Woody and Buzz are lost in the outside world, and the family are set to move to a new house! With time being short, the two must learn to put aside their differences and work together, lest they be left behind and become lost, losing contact with Andy forever.

It's easy to think of Toy Story as a Pixar film for children, but after rewatching as an adult, I must admit it really is more than that. Whimsical, beautifully heartfelt and imaginative, with some brilliant, brightly coloured animation, Toy Story is about more than it first appears. Themes of friendship, trust, jealousy and loyalty appear throughout, as the toys need to learn to accept one another for who they are if they’re going to be there for Andy.

It's really impressive how much this film was able to make me feel for inanimate objects. Sure, I liked my toys before the film, but after? No way was a toy being left in the garden overnight ever again. There was no chance I was going to simply go back to sleep if my favourite soft toy had fallen off the bed. (Sorry, mum.) Every toy in Toy Story has their own voice, their own characteristics and mannerisms, and even as an adult it’s heartwarming to watch the camaraderie between them all.

Toy Story is also incredibly funny whether you’re a child or an adult. One of my favourite moments comes when Buzz first arrives in Andy’s bedroom, and remarks on the lack of intelligent life, a jab at the other toys which starts the rivalry between him and Woody and made my childhood self nearly cry with laughter. For the adults watching, Bo Peep’s flirting isn’t exactly subtle, and whilst she could easily be seen as a bit of a damsel in distress, she certainly knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to let Woody know. Mr Potato Head’s puns are witty and clever, and that sums up the script quite well too; it perfectly balances humour with poignant moments and life lessons, making Toy Story a really great film for children and adults.

You can’t ignore the musical score either. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is a beautiful song which sums up the narrative well, underscoring the humanity and warmth of the plot and the message that you’re never truly alone. Isn’t that beautiful?

I really don’t have a bad word to say about Toy Story, even now, nearly thirty years since it was released. Toy Story is a funny, moving and timeless celebration of friendship and the power of working together, inviting us to rediscover the joy from our childhoods. Whilst things may change, and time certainly doesn’t wait for anyone; Toy Story reminds us of the importance of finding joy wherever you can and living in the moment. Toy Story will always have a special place in my heart – to infinity and beyond.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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