With their owner, Andy (voiced by John Morris), going off to college, Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head (Don Rickles, Estelle Harris) and the other toys find themselves accidentally donated to a daycare center. 

One of the center’s current residents is Lots-o'-Huggin'(Ned Beatty), a nasty stuffed bear who runs the place like a prison.  He and his toy henchmen fiddle with Buzz Lightyear’s inner mechanisms, putting the spaceman under their control, so it is up to Woody to come up with an escape plan and a way for his friends to get back to Andy.

CRITIQUE

In this final chapter of the Toy Story trilogy, Pixar has, once again, come up with a winner.

The animation is, as one has come to expect from this company, superb.  Indeed, there are some moments in the film where you are not quite sure if you are viewing a computer image or a real life background.  The detail is absolutely amazing.

A splendid cast of actors voices the movie’s various characters, imbuing them with subtle emotions that make some of these toys almost human.

On the other hand, with a suspenseful story that is considerably darker than the previous pictures, this movie might not be the best choice for smaller children.  Some of the characters (e.g. Lots-o'-Huggin') are outright evil, and others, like the baby doll and the monkey, are, to say the least, frightening.

One scene, in which our favorite characters appear to be facing certain destruction, is really something that a child under ten might find too disturbing.

Another word of warning: The ending that the writers and producers have chosen for this movie is certainly the right one, but is, nevertheless, heart-wrenching.  Only the most cold-hearted person will not be affected by it.

THE VIDEO

The widescreen picture is razor sharp.

THE AUDIO

The 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound is without flaws.

THE EXTRAS

Day And Night is the theatrical short that played with Toy Story 3 in theaters.  The technical aspects of this Pixar film are, frankly, more interesting than the story it tells.

Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: The Science Of Adventure (with NASA)

Studio Stories: Where’s Gordon, Cereal Bar, Clean Start and A Toy’s Eye View: Creating A Whole New Land are all behind the scenes featurettes about the making of Toy Story 3 and life at Pixar.

The Gang’s All Here is a look at the movie’s voice actors.

Alex Syntek (Mexican Music Video for You’ve Got a Friend in Me)

Cars 2 Teaser Trailer rounds out the bonus material.

FINAL THOUGHT

Toy Story 3 is a marvelous, touching conclusion to the Pixar trilogy, but it is a bit intense for little kids.