With Toy Story 4 headed to cinemas this week (June 21, 2019), we're taking a look at some of the reactions from critics who have had the lucky opportunity to check out the movie before its official release. Following on from the success and incredible reaction to the original trilogy, filmmakers had the deck stacked against them, so have they managed to pull off the impossible and bring fans another stunning entry? Or has the steam run out in this particular train? Here's what they thought...
Sara Michelle Fetters, for MovieFreak.com (Rating: 4/4)
"There is something meaningful going on here. Director Josh Cooley and the film’s cavalcade of writers (eight are listed with coming up with the story, while Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton and franchise newcomer Stephany Folsom are credited with the finished screenplay) have really gone out of their way to craft a story that is chockfull of delicious insights and nuances that passionately speak to all viewers, young and old alike. It is a richly rewarding saga of the difficulties of change and how debilitating not knowing what one’s purpose in life is, especially if one is uncomfortable in their own skin and has no idea if the image they’re presenting to the world is reflective of who they truly are on the inside. This is a movie about being able to let go and allow others to take the lead when the moment comes for them to do so, while at the same time respecting the wisdom and experience age can bring, especially when situations are on the verge of spiraling out of control."
Peter Gray, for The AU Review (Rating: 4.5/5)
"As a conclusion to a near-perfect series and a potential jumping off point for further stories to be told, Toy Story 4 succeeds as both. There’s a genuine care about these characters and how they can connect with audiences that’s always been at the forefront of their storytelling, and this third sequel is no exception. A generational experience that tailors its humour and heart to audiences across the board, Toy Story 4 is the type of soul-warming cinema experience we didn’t know we needed, but are thankful all the same that it exists."
Kirsten Acuna, for Insider (Rating: B)
"While Bunny and Ducky are fine additions, fans of Jessie and especially Bullseye may be disappointed by how little they appear in the movie. "Toy Story 4" went through a lot of writers — eight to be exact. It makes you wonder if there was more of the original gang in an earlier version of the movie."
Hannah Woodhead, for Little White Lies (Rating: 3/5)
"Definitely the weirdest Toy Story film to date – and quite possibly the weirdest Pixar film – there are unsettling ventriloquists’ dummies, a scheming stuffed unicorn and the motor-mouthed duo of Key and Peele to contend with in the new instalment. Cutaway gags, an inventive chase scene involving a cat and Tony Hale on top form as the neurotic fork-creature at the heart of the story all contribute to the film’s charm and infectious warmth. It’s also a beautiful film to look at; the matte-ness of ’50s manufactured Woody contrasts from Bo Peep’s porcelain design, which clinks pleasingly when she moves. Forky’s own design, so pleasingly naive, suggests to viewers that all a child really needs is imagination, and that the most unlikely sources can provide creative inspiration."
Don Shanahan, for Every Movie Has a Lesson (Rating: 2/5)
"The progression of Woody is what brings the second simplistic and prescriptive nugget over-hammered by Toy Story 4. Implored loudly in some moments and reflecting softly in others, the lament of knowing it’s time, knowing your time, or being ready for either state is overflowing in every direction towards Woody. It’s a high hurdle for the plastic protector and apparently one for the filmmakers themselves too who didn’t know when or how to leave this all be."
Utibe Gautt Ate, for Black Girl Nerds (Rating: 3.5/5)
"Out of the eight new characters, it’s only the white ones that closely resemble people: specifically, Bo, Gabby and newcomer Duke Caboom, a 1970s toy based on Canada’s greatest stuntman, voiced by Keanu Reeves. That they resemble humans makes it easier for viewers to relate to their emotions and to see themselves within these toys. However, was it so hard to imagine dolls that resembled people of color?"
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, for Metro (UK) (Rating: 5/5)
"Grown-ups, if you feel like you’ve only just recovered from Toy Story 3’s harrowing ‘furnace’ scene, bring hankies. Pixar is notorious for reducing parents to puddles. Its movies are built from the pain of loss — be it a child’s for their toy, an adult’s for their inner child — all explored here with tremendous sophistication. Oh, and technically it’s awe-inspiring — but that’s a given."
So, on the whole it looks like Toy Story 4 has done a brilliant job of combining all that was great about the first three films, and tied them together with new elements and aspects to ensure a fresh adventure the fourth time around. Whilst there are a couple of critics with their gripes about the direction the franchise has gone in, and those who think it would have been better served with its conclusion in Toy Story 3 being the absolute finale, the overwhelming majority are happy to see Woody, Buzz and co. up on the big screen once more.
Toy Story 4 comes to cinemas across the UK on Friday, June 21, 2019.
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