Toy Story 3: The Animated Classic
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris
Directed by: Lee Unkrich
Other Nominated Categories: Animated Feature Film, Original Song, Sound Editing, Adapted Screenplay
Toy Story 3 is the third installment to a story we all know and love. But it’s more than simply a children’s movie. It’s a film for all ages that might, in fact, mean more to our generation than any other.
In Toy Story 3, Woody (Hanks), Buzz (Allen) and the other beloved characters are back. This time, though, Andy is 17 and heading to college. He packs up his room and the long-forgotten toys that he plans to store in the attic. Mom accidentally throws the toys to the curb, which ends in a narrowly escaped disaster involving the garbage truck and a trip to a local daycare. Woody, the only toy Andy is taking with him to college, sees the mistake Mom made. He follows the gang to Sunnyside Daycare — a place of wonderment to Andy’s neglected toys. The toys decide to stay at the request of the strawberry-scented bear named Lotso (Beatty). Alone, Woody tries to make it back to Andy. Instead, he ends up in the hands of a loving and adorable toddler named Bonnie. At Bonnie’s house, Woody meets Chuckles. Chuckles the clown reveals to Woody the dark truth about Lotso and Sunnyside. Afraid of what might become of his friends, Woody treks back to Sunnyside to break them out.
Perhaps one of the best things about the 10 Best Picture nominees is the chance for some rather underrated films to shine. And cartoon animation is by far the most underrated genre of film. But, thanks to the Academy’s category change, more animated films are given the chance for big time Oscar wins. UP was nominated for Best Picture last awards season. Before that, the only other film to make the cut as a Best Picture nom was Beauty and the Beast in 1991. It lost, however, to Silence of the Lambs.
It’s hard to know whether Toy Story 3 really deserves the nomination or was simply given the chance because of the Academy’s rule adjustment. After all, it is considered to be “just a kid’s film” in the highest esteemed film award category around. And it’s a three-quel at that. But let’s not forget it was the highest grossing film of 2010 and is the fifth-highest grossing film of all time. Worldwide, it made $1,063,165,731. And we all know Pixar’s ability to elevate any ole kid’s film into something more. For this, it deserves the Academy’s recognition. But will it win Best Picture? We have yet to see the day.
The Bottom Line: You’ll want to dust off those favorite childhood toys for a snuggle session after viewing this fun family flick. Then, you should consider donating them to a cute rugrat such as Bonnie.
SOURCES:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435761/
http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=toystory3.htm
http://boxofficemojo.com/oscar/chart/?view=allcategories&yr=1991&p=.htm
http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross?region=world-wide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_Story_3