Josh Cooley's "TOY STORY 4"

Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald

My millennial son took me to see this as a Father’s Day gift. I took him and his sister to Disney and Pixar films when they were little so he knows about my love of animated films.

I was not disappointed. In some ways I think this is the best of the four Toy Story films given its amazing range of emotions, action, humor, and occasional insanity.

It doesn’t have moments of terror like Toy Story 3 or the profound sadness and melancholy of “When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2. It makes up for that with an extended portrayal of how the main characters search for meaning in a world where increasingly they seem to be at the mercy of events beyond their control.

In some ways this is the most “philosophical” of the Toy Story films. Not for a second does that detract from the movie’s humor or nutty action.

As with all Pixar movies the voice casting is excellent. Special praise is due Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom and to the heartfelt end-of-credits “in memoriam” to Don Rickles.

Highly recommended.

Review copyright (c) 2019 by Dennis D. McDonald

“Duke Caboom” is voiced by Keanu Reeves.